
Glass. 



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Rnnk , LB? £.?- 



SOME LATE WORDS 



ABOUT- 



LiOLJlSIA^A, 



■BY 



T. W. POOIiE, 

GernrnisMsner * ef * Irrirrjigratien 



-OF THE- 



STATE OF LOUISIANA. fW™ J 



ADDRESS: 

No. 60 ST. CHARLES STREET, 
New Orleans, La., U S. A. 



NEW ORLEANS : 
CRESCENT STEAM PRINT,, 110 Chartres Street. 

1891. 






teVi- 



£ fe— » j Jfy 



1391: 

CRESCENT BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE, 
HO CHARTRES STREET, 



'^^*~ I 



SOME LATE WORDS ABOUT LOUISIANA. 



TTTHE Louisiana of to-day is a very different State from Louisiana of 
^ I (^ four, or even two, years ago, with respect to immigration. Within 
X the former period, an area in her southwestern horder, a belt fifty 
miles long by twenty or more broad, has been utterly transfigured by 
such a notable immigration from the West, that it is the mostly dis- 
tinctively Anglo-Saxon migration ever known to the South since the 
settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, in the early history of our civiliza- 
tion of this continent. The character or quality of this immigration is 
beyond praise, viewed as a mass. It blends instantly in fraternal co- 
herence with our people in enduring homogenity. 

Its people are law-abiding, intelligent, thrifty, industrious, in large 
proportion well-to-do (in not a few cases wealthy), and thoroughly in 
accord with the spirit of American liberty. In almost every instance 
they pay cash for the land they purciiase. In cases where the earlier 
settlers of more moderate means have purchased or taken homesteads, 
the great increase in value of their holdings has placed them, with few 
exceptions, in a position of competency; so, that as a body, they con- 
stitute such an aggregation of land-owners, free from indebtedness, that 
no part of the United States furnishes a parallel to. 

Then, as a body, there is such a deep and pervading content and hope- 
fulness marking them that, without almost an exception, every one is 
an enthusiastic, efficient propagandist in behalf of immigration to the 
State. 

All these factors in this bright epoch of Louisiana's progress are only 
earnests of the incompatible outcome of the development of our State. 
Only a few years ago was felt the first impress of this progress that has 
now deeply and durably engraven its fair features upon Louisiana. 

It is an enviable distinction and an indestructible self-engraving, as 
well as an enduring beneficence, attaching to the administration of my 
predecessor, Hon. Wra. H. Harris, this great development of our State. 
Contemporaneous with his administration has transpired one of her most 
notable eras. This is a felicity upon which he is to be congratulated ; 
and fair-minded men will be ylad to remember it, as we are to reeord it. 

And, as coadjutors, it is a duty and a pleasure to accord to others 
their measure of praise. Mr. S. L. Carey, formerly of Manchester, Iowa, 
was induced to locate in Calcasieu parish through the importunity of 
Commissioner Harris. With a patience, sagacity, industry and manage- 
ment truly remarkable, this pioneer set to work to populate the area 
then unknown to the foot of the Western immigrant. He secured some 
land ; prevailed on his kindred to settle from the West ; laid off tlie town 
of Jennings, and soon had a nucleus of Western men. And Mr. A. D. 
McFarlain a native, was a co-worker and joint owner of this town. A 
little later, Mr. J. B. Watkins secured an immense area — a million and a 
half acres, or more — and soon laid the foundation of those prodigious 
and expensive plans of development and immigration propaganda which 
soon afterwards characterized his efforts, and which are si il 1 in force. 

Early in the year 1886, The Times- Democrat, one of the leading papers 
of the South, a journal of great authority, of New Orleans, La., secured 



SOME LATE WORDS 



the services or' Col. M. B. Hillyard. This gentleman traveled overmuch 
of Southwest Louisiana, and wrote many letters about that area. Jen- 
nings, then a little town of a dozen or more houses, received great at- 
tention from Ms pen, and he gave distinct regard to several oti er 
localities. Jlis letters were widely republished in the West, and were N 
reproduced in a number of journals in England. These, letters con- 
tributed much to the development of Southwest Louisiana, as is gener- 
ally conceded by the people of this State and the country at huge. An- 
other work by this gentleman was the publication of a large bdok, 
entitled " The New South," issued in 1887. In it Louisiana, as well as 
other States of the South, had space accorded to their claims upon the im- 
migrant, the capitalist, manufacturer and health seeker. It was distribu- 
ted, iii elegant form, by its publishers, The Manufacturers' Record of 
Baltimore, Md., to all the leading hotels and libraries and newspapers of 
the United States, and the leading steamship lines of the world. This 
stroke of enterprise cost the publishers, we are credibly informed, 
nearly twenty thousand dollars. And this book is telling the story of 
Louisiana's attractions throughout the civilized world, and for unnum- 
bered years, will still proclaim them. 

Shortly after Col. Hillyard's work in the The Times- Democrat, Mr. J. 
B. Watkins began to print The American at Lake Charles, La., and to 
commence that large and liberal system of de\ Mopment of his lands 
and advertising them. The whole adjacent count* v felt the influence of 
Jiese costly endeavors, and Lake Charles felt, pai Ocularly, the work, 
which is written in a progress of larger character than any town 
in Southwest Louisiana, or, perhaps, the State. As an assistant in this 
work, he had Prof. S. A. Knapp, formerly president of the Iowa Agri- 
cultural College, who, by tongue and pen and many phases of public 
action and marked identification with industrial affairs, has, in a brief 
sojourn in Louisiana, made a reputation here second only to that of the 
great distinction he achieved in Iowa. The other great assistant of Mr. 
Watkins was Prof. A. Thomson, formerly of Iowa, and a brother-in- 
law. This gentleman (a civil engineer) has had the practical oversight 
and execution of many schemes of Mr. Watkins and his own, and some 
in connection with Prof. Knapp in their own interest. 

Another factor of considerable influence in development in that area 
has been the Southwest Louisiana Land Company, with Mr. Alphonse 
Levi as president, and Messrs. C. C. Duson and W. W. Duson as co- 
workers. Among other striking phases of their work has been the 
building of Crowley, in which Col. Hillyard gave most notable assist- 
ance in the columns of The Times-Democrat aforesaid. Another steady 
a«d liberal co-worker in the development of Southwest Louisiana has 
Seen the Southern Pacific Railroad. The country so greatly developed, 
of which we have been speaking, is situated on their line. They have 
devised schemes to foster immigration, having as Northern immigration 
agent, Mr. S. L. Carey; and, besides, special rates for immigrants, at all 
iimes, run for the winter and late autumn and early spring, semi- 
monthly excursions in conjunction with the Illinois Central Railroad, at 
very low rates, with Mr. Carey accompanying them as guide. 

So much for Southwest Louisiana. 

In North Louisiana and elsewhere, there are several immigration as- 
sociations at work: The North Louisiana Land and Improvement Com- 
pany of Union parish; an Immigration Association in Franklin parish ; 
the North Louisiana Immigration Association, headquarters in Caddo- 
parish; an Immigration Association under the Sugar Planters' Associa- 
tion of the parish of Ascension. In this part of the State, North Louisi- 
ana, while Western Immigration has made but only an occasional mark, 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 



hardly noticeable, yet immigration from the South, of white people from 
Georgia, Alabama and other States, is making a considerable stir, and 
coming in in force. Although the movement is very recent, vet already 
several hundred families have come in, and these are but the harbingers of 
those to follow. It is an act of the merest justice to say that this immigra- 
tion is greatly, if not wholly, attributable to Mr. E. C. Drew, of Bienville 
parish, Louisiana. We see warm tributes to him in the press of that 
portion of the State, and think the people generally are glad to have 
their gratitude voiced in such recognition of his services. 

Another powerful influence in behalf of immigration is the Illinois 
Central Railroad. On their southern division, within the limits of 
Louisiana, in the last two or three years, much development has taken 
place (here. Several towns that, within those years, had no existence, 
have become quite noted West, and are building rapidly, while 
others that languished have become bustling. The development in 
fruit and vegetable raising has been immense, and this railroad now 
devotes its best efforts to promoting these industries — industries long 
before prosecuted by energetic pioneers, and which brought them loss 
or ruin. 

In this late work of development on the line of the Illinois Central 
Railroad, The Times- Democrat played some part, having again brought 
into requisition the pen of Col. M. B. Hillyard, who spent some months 
in writing up that country in its columns. In connection with this rail- 
road, the signal efforts of Mr. J. F. Merry, the general Western passen- 
ger agent of the load, ought to be mentioned. He has put into opera- 
tion a well-devised and ably sustained scheme of semi-monthly excur- 
sions from the West over the line of his road, to promote immigration 
to Louisiana. 

It is right and proper, in this later-day rush of immigration, and fruit 
and vegetable planting, that pioneers, who worked many years before, 
should not be forgotten. Fifteen or twenty years ago much work was 
done in behalf of immigration, and raising fruits and vegetables. Such 
men as Dr. S. A. Swazcy, the Messrs. Menard, S. S. Connor, and others, 
were early in fruits and vegetables. Col. M. B. Hillyard, then of Hazle- 
hurst, Mississippi, exerted an influence along the whole line in his large 
work there in the same business; and Mr. Parker Earle. the president of 
the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society, lent to the industry the 
great influence! of his example. In immigration, Col. Dan'l Dennett, the 
veteran agricultural editor of the New Urleans I'icai/inte, and Col. M. B. 
Hillyard, exerted themselves strenuously by addresses along the line of 
the Illinois Central railroad, as early as 1874-75. And the latter gentle- 
man wrote many letters before and after that time, in various Northern 
journals, and brought down many eminent journalists from the North 
and West to assist in the behalf in question. Through him, too, the 
management of the railroad (since .passed into the .hands of the Illinois 
Central), spent much money in advertising, editorial excursions, etc. 

Finally, the earlier work of commending Louisiana, to the public had 
great help from a pamphlet from the pen of Col. Daniel Dennett, afore- 
said, entitled "Louisiana As It Is." This work was issued about the 
year 1875, and was chiefly devoted to the " Attakapas" parishes of South- 
west Louisiana. It is a noble work, and written con antore by one 
thoroughly conversant with the topic. No greater praise can be ac- 
corded it, than to say that the United States government has adopted 
much of its subject matter in a pamphlet, issued by the United States 
Department of Agriculture, entitled " The Soils and Products of South- 
western Louisiana." In this pamphlet, Col. Dennett's work is thus 
alluded to : 



6 SOME LATE WORDS 



"The most accurate information in reference to the location and dis- 
tances of the towns, rivers, lakes, bayous and railroads is found in Den- 
nett's description of Southwestern Louisiana." We have had several 
motives in this rather extended review of Louisiana's progress, and the 
promoters of it. First, we rejoice to "render honor to whom honor is 
due;" we delight to keep fresh in public esteem those whom the world 
quickly forgets, in the nature of human conduct ; we also, thereby, while 
paying these tributes, measurably portray the development of the State, 
and show its localities. The lesson is thereby conveyed that work 
finally counts, although in some cases the fruits do not at once appear. 
The lesson of this depiction is that three localities are on the road to a 
development. That, in Southwest Louisiana, is beyond due estimate ; 
that is very considerable on the line of the Illinois Central railroad, and 
that promises much in North and Northwest Louisiana. Those railroads 
have spent money liberally, and have employed competent officers. 
North Louisiana has not had railroad assistance, but labor has borne its 
results. The review offers an incentive to other railroads to exert them- 
selves in behalf of immigration. Nearly a score of towns have sprung up 
on the Southern Pacific railroad as one of the results of immigration, and 
several on the line of the Illinois Central. On the other hand, the teach- 
ing is that if a railroad' will mat arise to the height of the opportunity, 
still private enterprise can effect much, as Mr. E. C. Drew's great suc- 
cess amply illustrates. Therefore, let individuals and associations take 
hold of this great interest. The lesson is that, with proper manage- 
ment, they cannot labor in vain. 

In the following pages the general topics of health (the most important 
of all considerations) and climate are treated with an authoritativencss 
and exhaustiveness that makes anything we could say superfluous and a 
work of supererogation. Unreasonable, indeed, would be that person 
who could wish anything more satisfactory about health, anything fur- 
ther about climate, than the matter herewith printed. 

Briefly, as to fruit, and vegetable raising, we ought 60 say that perhaps 
no State in the Union presents, within its borders, such a wide range as 
Louisiana. The orange and olive flourish on her southern borders. 
The apple, cherry, gooseberry, currant, will do well within her limits. 
Between the north and south lines, what a range! The fig, pear, apri- 
cot, nectarine and every small fruit will flourish. Let the horticulturist 
ponder this, and let the critic point to any other State (unless perhaps 
California) where the like conditions obtain, in the regard in the 
premises. 

And as to vegetables and melons, where can those raised liere be sur- 
passed ? 

The nut-bearing trees are worthy of* a chapter. 

The flowers are beyond our pen, and " beggar praise." 

The topics of live stock and grasses deserve far more consideration 
than we can accord them. Some of the most distinguished thorough- 
bred horses the world has ever kuowu have been born and raised within 
the borders of this State. 

Mule raising, which has been only the vogue of late, has received a 
great impetus within a few years ; and this business has amply demon- 
strated the superior quality of the home-bred and home-raised mule. 

Long ago cattle raising was a marked feature of the States' adaptation 
to the business. In few States in this Union was there a broader pastoral 
life. Millions of acres of her prairies was a cattle range. Thousands of 
men lived on the industry of cattle-raising. The abundant streams; 
the rainfall, so avenly distributed throughout the year ; the abnudaut 
dews; the miii tHivuite ; tha ir?nderful abundance, richness of native 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 



grasses; the fact that these supported cattle all winter, made cattle- 
raising the easiest and most successful of all vocations. They were never 
fed, never housed, and only saw their owners at branding times, or when 
wanted for slaughter or deportation. Immigration has greatly narrowed 
the range; but soil, climate, rainfall and Btreams, sunshine and dews still 
abide. And now is dawning the era of improved stock. Herds of Hol- 
stems, Jerseys, Short horns, Polled Angus and other thoroughbreds and 
registered breeds have got a lasting foothold. Soon the creameries will 
dot our towns, and dairying will be inaugurated on a broad scale. 

Then will come in, broadly, the cultivated grasses: Red clover 
Timothy, red top, orchard grass, Kentucky blue grass, meadow fescue! 
white c over, etc., etc. Every one of these grasses have been tried, as 
has alfalfa, and all those and others are a success. Let no one fear about 
these. Sow m October, from 15th to 30th, and success will be certain. 
We ought to commend our Lespcdezu striata ('Japan clover) Bermuda 
grass, and the various paspalnms (carpet grass;, as Wonderful summer 
grasses; but space forbids. Suffice it to sav, that, with proper manage- 
ment, by combining the summer and winter grasses (all the former we 
rank as winter grasses/, pastures of the most luxuriant and nutritious 
character can be had the year round. Hay-making, from carpet grass, 
lias become a pronounced industry among the immigrants in Southwest 
Louisiana. We expect to see Timothy hay exported from New Oilcans 
to New York by sea, in large quantities within the next ten years, thu 
product ot Louisiana's soil. 

We ought not to forget what a large business is horse-raising in South- 
west Louisiana— the famous "Attakapas"— living on grase the year 
round, with a healthfulness and " bottom » having no rival in the country. 
Sheep and hogs do superbly. The reasons are easily explicable. In 
grass, they have the most healthful of food, almost the year round ; and, 
it the cultivated grasses, heretofore mentioned, be seeded, pasture can 
be had the year through. In the forests there is a great variety of 
mast 'many varieties of the hickory-nut, the pecan, many varieties of 
the oak, beech, etc. Then hogs rind a great man v worms and other food 
and have exercise of unlimited range. The breed's that are an undoubted 
success, are Poland, China, Berkshire, Essex and Jersey Red or Dnroo 
Of course the " natives " are included. Some of them grow to good size, 
and they are very hardy. The Guinea, too, may be included. 

Sheep are very healthful ; and even in the prairies, where the country, 
being generally very level, would seem to be against them, because, to the 
superficial observer, not giving them a dry enough "foot," great success 
lias attended the industry. The animal is very fecund in Louisiana: 
seventy-five per cent, increase jyer annum, being an estimate within 
bounds. I heir wool is even-fibred and in demand. In much of the area 
it is not " hurry. " Owing to their healthfulness, twins are common, and 
sometimes triplets are borne. Not being subject to the many diseases 
incident to the transition from green food to dry in winter, and from dry 
to green food in spring, and other complaints of a rigorous climate, but 
having green food (herbivorous sustenance,) all the year here, thev have 
almost no diseases. " Scab, " we believe, is unknown, and foot-rot rare. 
1 he only thing that may be accounted an enemy is the ubiquitous cur, 
and this will be a declining impediment as the years roil by, and in parts 
ot the fctate is an insignificant obstacle. 

Before passing from the topic of live stock, we ought not to fail to 
impress the tact, that young mules and horses incur no set back or 
stunt here, but grow right on through winter. Another most strik- 
ing tact is that both these animals, owing to the mildness of our climate 



8 SOME LATE WORDS 

are remarkably free from troubles of the throat and lungs. And mules 
seldom have the " big jaw." 

As the North and West place so much stress upon the cultivated 
grasses, we ought, in justice to the topic, to say something more of 
them. Tiie most unobservant traveler, in the richer lands of Louisiana, 
must surely have noticed how wonderfully white clover thrives there. 
It lasts much, if not all, the year, but is at its best from December to 
June. In the latitude of New Orleans, it is sometimes in bloom by the 
middle of January, and in our richest lands frequently attains the height 
of fifteen to eighteen inches. 

Red clover has been tried at many points in the State. In some parts, 
it is growing in profusion, for miles along headrows, and near the tracks 
of railroads. Introduced at various points in the State, in the wake of 
the Federal cavalry, during the late war, it is flourishing in utter neg- 
lect and disregard, and large quantities of hay are made from it in 
various localities by those who cultivate it. 

Timothy is another grass that has been more or less sown, and that 
demonstrates its adaptation to our soil and climate. 

Kentucky blue grass is beginning to make its way (one knows not 
how), and scarcely can a locality be found where more or less of it can- 
not be seen. The few who have seeded it, we think, are satisfied with 
it, and in combination with Bermuda grass, it will, in a few years, be 
the favorite with the intelligent stock-raiser for perpetual evergreen 
pasture. 

Bermuda is the most nutritious of all grasses; is never killed, and 
rarely injured by any drought; will support a greater number of stock 
to a given area, than any grass known ; and is good pasture from May 
or April, according to latitude, until killing frost. 

Kentucky blue grass comes in when the Bermuda gives way, and 
continues until the Bermuda is in force in the spring. They flourish 
together, and will last indefinitely; and thus, on the same area, the 
greatest two grasses of the world flourish, an evergreen pasture in- 
definitely. 

Meadow Fescue we have never seen tried, but from the way it holds 
on in Audubon Park, where it was sown during the great Exposition, it 
would seem to be all that could be desired as a winter grass. It is there 
wonderfully luxuriant, and has been subjected to repeated summer 
mowings for four or five years. 

Of other grasses, we have not so satisfactory a knowledge, but all 
natural conditions are even more favorable here than in our sister State 
of Mississippi, where almost all grasses known, have been for years de- 
monstrated an unquestionable success. 

In "The New South" heretofore referred to, Col. M. B. Hillyard, in 
his article on Mississippi, treats the topic of the cultivated grasses at 
large. For years he had studied them there, and had sown them in 
many localities. He adduces a mass of testimony in their favor there 
that will convince the most sceptical. He thus comments on the mass 
of his testimony : "At this day, 1883, few well-informed persons can 
doubt that the South has some of the best grass regions on the conti- 
nent ; but I thought it well enough to give the testimony of these eminent 
authorities, who, nearly ten years ago, were satisfied as to Mississippi 
and other parts of the South. If such men had no doubts then, who can 
doubt now?" Again : " I have been so elaborate on grasses, because I 
would have no reader left in uncertainty as to whether the South is 
naturally a great grass country." And the author enumerates clover, 
red, white, alfalfa, spotted medick, Japan and Mexican ; Kentucky blue 
grass, red top or Herd's grass, Timothy, orchard grass, tall meadow oat 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 



grass, Italian rye grass, velvet lawn grass, Johnson grass. Now, as our 
rainfall and dew are heavier than in Mississippi and our heat not so 
great; and as our rainfall is greatest in summer — we beg the reader to 
remember this tremendous fact, — and our soil (mainly) more fertile, our 
natural conditions are better for grasses than those of Mississippi. < 

The immigrant ought to be assured that he need not quit the crops of 
his old home, by coming to Louisiana. If he prefers to not try rice, 
sugar-cane, cotton or peas, he can raise corn, oats, rye, barley, wheat 
and buckwheat. These last three, many may tell him he cannot raise; 
but it is not the fact. Before, the war North Louisiana raised all her own 
wheat, in many localities. It has been demonstrated that two crops of 
buckwheat can be raised in a season. As to corn and oats, some prodi- 
gious crops have been raised ; and scarcely any agricultural fair but one 
or inure prizes .are awarded lor over one hundred bushels of corn per 
acre. 

We desire to emphasize the point that our future agriculture will be 
prominent in production of sea-island cotton. It has been successfully 
raised between New Orleans and Mobile years ago, and there is no reason 
why our Gulf trout, west of New Orleans, may not thus be utilized. 

Our sugar industry is promised a revolution under the diffusion pro- 
cess ; and the epoch of central refineries and small farms will then come 
in vogue. The land owner will raise cane and sell it at so much per ton 
to the sugar refiner. From fifteen to forty tons per acre can be raised 
at a cost of one dollar and fifty cents, after the cane is planted, which 
costs, say, ten dollars per acre. At least three dollars per ton can be 
got for the cane. One hand can cultivate twenty acres of cane. Let 
any one caculate, and he will see the profits under that aspect of the in- 
dustry. Land can be had at from ten to twenty dollars per acre. 

Rice raising is very generally adopted by the immigrants who have 
moved to Southwest Louisiana from the West. They find the business 
profitable and easy. Figures vary so much, according to season, irriga- 
tion facilities, culture, care in saving, etc., etc., that we refrain from 
details. From twenty-five to forty dollars per acre is a safe statement 
of clear money, under average circumstances. The straw makes a good 
"feed" for horses and cattle, and if the second crop be cut (as is here 
and there being done), springing up from the shattered seed, a most 
superb hay can be had — yielding from two to four tons per acre of im- 
mature rice and very nutritious stalks. Hardly a richer provender can 
be found, except that of " pea vine" hay, where the pea is left uugath- 
ered, and which (by the way) is a common and wonderful crop. 

We pass without elaboration the large crops of sweet potatoes and 
peanuts ("goobers") that can anywhere in Louisiana be raised. 

In this hurried attempt at a broad view of the .State, the wonderful 
system of the waterways of Louisiana ought to receive a word's notice. 
Ill this regard, she is without a peer in the nation ! This distinction has 
advantages too great for adequate comment. These waterways furnish 
highways for commerce, and are influential (or can be made so) to check 
excessive rates of transportation. They give abundant, and even inexhaus- 
tible supplies of water for stock raising, a desideratum that any one who 
has ever raised stock in an arid country will highly appeciate. Almost 
every stream abounds with fish of very hue quality. The main streams 
aie unfailing— fed from far-off sources. The Mississippi river drains 
almost half the United States. The Arkansas and Red rivers course 
several States or Territories, and draw their supplies of water a vast dis- 
tance from their mouths. Minor streams are i'vd by almost thousands of 
streams or brooks which have their sources in the "everlasting hills." 



10 SOME LATE WORDS 

These >brooks are clear and pure, and ripple over pebbly and eandy 
ways, and springs are innumerable in North Louisiana. 

The climatologist will not fail to reflect upon the effects of these 
waters in regard to health and rainfall ; and their economic aspect is a 
matter of no little import to the cities, on their banks, and those to be, 
for the various uses to which their supplies of water may be put. 

So pervading or penetrating is the navigability of many of the streams 
of Louisiana, that, at thousands of homes, the passenger and his freight 
can be landed almost literally at his very door. And there is open to all 
such unlimited opportunities for bathing, sailing, boating, etc. The 
lumberman finds in many of these streams the cheapest and best of all 
means of rafting his timber to the mill, and, if he will, of floating his 
lumber to markets. On the smaller streams arc unlimited opportunities 
for fish-ponds j and one can have the option of catching several species 
offish from the brook, or one or more species from the fish-pond. 

Louisiana abounds in lakes, (there are over three thousand miles of 
them, many of them navigable), salt and fresh. In the former are 
many fine fish, and oysters, crab and shrimp (the true crayfish so dear 
to Englishmen). In the latter are also many choice species of fish. 
And many of these lakes are navigable and beautifully wooded ; and 
some day will be beautified with homes cherished as winter resorts. This 
aspect of these lakes has never had the consideration it deserves. Only 
a few spots have received the attention their loveliness warrants, and 
will, ere long, command. Thousands of lovely villas will deck their 
shores within the next quarter of a century, and they will be graced 
with the most aesthetic features of flori-culture and arboriculture. The 
gaily painted yacht will curtsey on their waters, and the embellishments 
of architecture will add its charms to their shores.- And in these lovely 
homes, the graces of domestic life will embellish and highten natural 
attractions; and nature will render back its inestimable blessings of 
health and the innocent joys of br>l songs, flowers, balmy airs ami glo- 
rious skies. Well might one dilate at large on the large, luscious, inno- 
cent, soothing narcotism of the gulf airs, but space forbids. Mr. Joseph 
Jefferson, the world-renowned actor and impersonator of Rip Van 
Winkle, places special emphasis on the bland and healing effects of the 
climate on overstrung nerves and overwrought brain, and the relaxed 
and overdone business man, at his winter home near one of these 
lakes. 

There are nearly four thousand miles of navigable rivers and smaller 
streams; while the mileage of brooks is almost incomputable. 

In her wealth and variety of timber, Louisiana has no superior, if a 
peer, in the United States. In point of species of wood, there are prob- 
ably over a hundred, and their value is unequaled by any State in the 
Union, and their magnificence surpassed by none but a, few of the giants 
of California. In ornamental trees, her wide-spreading live oaks have 
no peer. Their breath of foliage and the deep and cordial tones of their 
color, are a never failing joy, to say nothing of their shapeliness. The 
magnolia grand/flora is another tree of incomparable beauty, both of 
form and foliage, while its immense creamy chalice of bloom overflows 
almost all summ«r with an intensity and pervasion of fragrance that is 
almost unendurable to some. But space forbids much regard to the 
aesthetic side of Louisiana's flora. The hardwood —many species of 
oaks, several of hickory, (the pecan among them), ash, etc., are most 
superb in size and fibre. Probably no State in the Union can show such 
profusion, quality and size of the last three species, as Louisiana. 

In cypress Louisiana is vastly ahead of any other State in the Union, 
not only in quantity but quality. This wood is making its way into 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 11 



many uses, and, within a few years, Las met with such general com- 
mendation that it is in great demand. Many mills in Louisiana run en- 
tirely on its "cut," and the business is one of the most expanded indus- 
tries of the State. In certain localities, is found bird'seye cypress, 
especially in demand for ornamental work. 

In yellow pine, Louisiana has one of the largest supplies of any State 
in the Union, and is claimed by soiue to surpass any State. This tree 
grows only in the South. Of late, its lumber lias grown into great favor, 
and according to Mr. W. II. Howcott, a leading authority, has come into 
extensive use in Idaho, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. 
It has greatly supplanted other lumber in many large Western cities. 
According to this authority there are over 2, 4(H) saw mills in the South, 
most of them euttiug this lumber, and fifty millions of dollars have 
been invested in .Southern pinelands since the last census. Louisiana 
has shared hugely in these sales, and millions of acres have been 
to speculators and manufacturers. The following compilation from the 
last United States census, taken from Mr. Howeott's letter in the Balti- 
more Manufacturers' 1 Record, of January 5, 1881), shows the status of 
Louisiana as to yellow pine. 

The forrestry bulletins of the last census of the United States give the 
following estimates of long and short leaf yellow pine standing June 
1st, 1880, viz : 

Long leaf, feet. Short leaf, feet. 

Alabama 18,d85,000,000 

Florida b',G15,0()0,000 

Arkansas 41,315,000,000 

Georgia 16,77S,000,()(IO 

Louisiana 26,588,000,000 21 ,625,000,000 

Mississippi 17,200,<iOO,OU> (5.775,000,000 

North Carolina 5,229,000,000 

South Carolina 5.310,000,000 26,093,200,000 

Texas 20,508,000,000 26,093,200,000 



Total 117,119,000,000 121,901,400,000 

Louisiana has long been known to possess some minerals in great force. 
Her deposit of rock salt is one of the purest and most extensive in the 
world, containing over 99 per cent of chloride of sodium (common salt,/, 
It is crushed or powdered, and over four hundred tons are sent away 
from the mines daily — a railroad having been built to t In- mines. This is 
on Petite Anse island. In the northern portion of the Slate, salt, long 
ago, was obtained by boiling water from salt wells. 

Near Lake Charles is what is claimed to be Uie largest deposit of sul- 
phur in the world — a stratum of cry stall zed sulphur, three hundred feet 
thick, of remarkable purity. There is quite a flow of petroleum there, 
lately discovered, which is a fine lubricant just as it, comes from the well. 
There too, is found limestone, gypsum and alum. In marbles, Louisiana 
is- rich. There are several colors — a black, dove colored, and a dark, 
mottled marble, streaked with white veins. This last style is in im- 
mense force, accessible, easily quarried, and is very tractable. In ono 
instance, there is an immense hill, almost mountain of it. There are sev- 
eral varieties of limestone, some of very tine quality, and in abundance. 
There are some sandstones of good quality, and a peculiarly line mill- 
stone grit. Kaolin is found in great abundance, and of hue quality. 
Marl is also abundant and of good quality. 

It is only of very late that the precious minerals have been found. 
But earef»l, conscientious investigations assure us that gold and silver 
have been found. Some free gold has been discovered, and there is cer- 



12 SOME LATE WORDS 



tainly to be found auriferous quartz, and a limestone bearing gold. 
Several assays have proved this, and the testimony of a verj eminent 
geologist is secured as to the quartz. A gold-bearing limestone has been 
found, assaying eight ounces of pure gold to the ton, on the authority of 
a thoroughly reliable gentleman. Silver is found in the limestone, and 
many assays have been made of it. From the testimony we have, there 
is a very rich treasure of this mineral in Louisiana. There has been 
nothing but a private and superficial exploitation made ; but we are as- 
sured that the auriferous quartz, and the silver-aud-gold-bearing lime- 
stone are in great force, particularly the former. Iron is found; but, at 
this stage of investigation, we cannot commend it from an economic 
standpoint. It is an act of bare justice to say that Hon. W. H. Jack and 
Mr. Samuel H. Houston have been conspicuously identified with the ex- 
ploration of the more recently found minerals of the State. Before leav- 
ing the topic, we state that we have been recently shown a specimen of 
semi-anthracite coal by a gentleman of this State, who assures us that it 
was found in this State, and that he thinks it exists in quantity. If this 
be so (and we regard the information as reliable), it is a most significant 
fact. In conclusion upon the topic, we beg to urge upon capitalists and 
explorers the minerals of Louisiana as well worthy of their attention. 

We now proceed to a brief consideration of the various lands of Lou- 
isiana, as categorized on the topographical map of Louisiana, construct- 
ed by the eminent Prof. S. H. Lockett, now deceased. He makes eight 
grand divisions of them, to- wit : " Good uplands, Pine hills, Bluff lauds, 
Pine flats, Prairies, Alluvial lands, Wooded swamps, Coast marsh. " Of 
the " Good uplands " he says : " Soil ; Sandy gray, or yellow loamy, or 
red ferriginous. Subsoil, red clay. Small bottoms, fertile. Forests : 
Oaks, hickory, ash, beech, maple, dogwood, gums and short leaf pine. 
Water good. Products: Cotton, corn, potatoes, small grain. Area, 
8,200 square miles." With the exception of East Feliciana (which is 
placed in isolation, entirely in this belt), the area in question is situated 
along the northern half of the western border of the State, and in the 
northwest and west part of the north border of the State. 

The valley of the Red river throws a long, narrow belt of this territory 
in the category or classification of " Alluvial Lands, " in variant widths, 
of from one to two townships wide, stretching from nearly the extreme 
northwest corner of the State, pretty straight southeast. 

Also there is a narrow belt of "Alluvial Lands" penetrating this 
"Good Uplands" belt, about thirty miles long and two or three wide, 
along Bayou Dauchite, running almost due north and south in West 
Webster parish. Then the Ouachita river and Bayou Darbonne consti- 
tute some belts of ''Alluvial Lands" in their sinuosities, on the north- 
west border of this " Good Uplands" territory. 

The parishes in which the ''Good Uplands" obtain almost wholly or 
totally, are Sabine, DeSoto, Caddo, Bossier, Ked River, Bienville, 
Webster, Lincoln, Jackson, Union. A long, narrow strip of the "Good 
Uplands" penetrates southeast through central Caldwell parish, well into 
Catahoula. A large portion of Morehouse and Ouachita parishes are also 
in the said territory. 

This belt, of which we have been writing, is emphatically a country of 
hill and dale, finely wooded, healthful and abounding in never-failing 
springs and streams — the latter teeming with fish. Its topography is a 
lofty rebuke to that stereotyped misconception that deems Louisiana a 
morass. This area particularly sustains the language of Col. H. S. 
Lockett, who made the topographical map referred to. and which is 
quoted by Col. M. 15. Hillyard in his book, " The New South," as follows: 

" Most people conclude that Louisiana is, throughout its entire extent, 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 13 



a low, wet, swampy region. They imagine its surface to lie a great plain 
of wonderful fertility, when at all arable, with an undefinable succession 
of decp^jungles, tangled swamps, marshes, lakes, sloughs, cane and 
cypress Drakes. But these misconceptions will be speedily dissipated by 
a journey into the interior, and it will be discovered that few States of 
the Union possess a greater diversity of surface, soil, climate, seeuery 
and products than Louisiana." Will the reader please pause, for just a 
moment, and let the import of that expression, " diversity of surface and 
scenery," sink into his comprehension '? The truth is that this "Good 
Uplands " is a pleasing and picturesque country. Its variation of contour 
is almost constant; and, while there is neither grandeur nor sublimity in 
its scenery, it is the utmost remove from monotony of configuration. 

Its wealth of hard wood timber is great, and will, some day, play a 
great part in industries into which it may enter — agricultural imple- 
ments, wagon, carriage and furniture factories, tanneries, and, as acces- 
sories of the last, boot and shoe manufactories, etc. The choicest fruits, 
common to higher latitudes, may be raised here. We feel quite sure 
that the Delaware grape can be raised to perfection on its hills. The fig- 
is at home. But we can dwell no longer on this area, except to say that 
it is pierced on its northern border by a prominent railroad and a branch 
road, and that other lines are surveyed which promise still further rail- 
road facilities; that a consiierable part of its area is penetrated by navi- 
gable streams, on which steamboats ply; and that more or less minerals 
are to be found there. 

The next grand division of Louisiana, on the topographical ma]), is 
that of the " Pine Hills." These are situated in the northern part of Cal- 
casieu parish, clear across its longitude, constituting, in round numbers, 
about one-third of its large area ; the whole of Vernon parish, except a 
thread of alluvial land on the Sabine river; about the equivalent in area 
of six townships in Southeast Sabine parish ; the southwest fourth part of 
Natchitoches parish, and a belt a township, or more wide across its south 
boundary, and about the equivalent of five townships and embracing the 
area of its narrow north longitude ; the entire area of Winn parish : 
almost the entirety of Grant, except a narrow strip of "Alluvial Land " 
in its southwestern corner — the bottom of Bed river — and a mere rib- 
bon of the same sort of land on the south half of its west border, the 
bottom of Little river; the greater part of Bapides parish, which is pene- 
trated its entire length by the "Alluvial Lands " of the Bed river bottom, 
in a northwest and southeast direction, and constituting a belt of the lat- 
ter two townships wide, which throws the parish into a huge area of 
"Pine Hills" on its west, and a small area northeast ; about the equiva- 
lent of five townships in Northwest Saint Landry parish ; about a third of 
the area of Northwest Catahoula parish, about the equivalent of four- 
teen townships; a wedge-shaped portion of Bienville parish, sharply ter- 
minating near Sparta, with its base covering almost all the south border 
of the parish, about three townships wide in longitude ; and a block in 
Jackson parish, two townships wide in latitude, and a little over three 
in longitude iu the southeast area. 

The above is a rude description of the area of the " Pine Hills." It is 
a character of country, mainly broken. Its pine timber is, in some 
areas, superb. It is thinly settled ; abounds in game (as does much of 
the " Good Uplands'') ; is beautifully watered, with springs and clear 
Streams, and plentiful in fish and healthful. Here are found much of the 
best minerals of Louisiana. 

Of this "Pine Hills" division Professor Lockett thus writes on his 
topographical map aforesaid : "Soil : Thin, sandy, poor ; small bot- 
toms good. Forest : Long leaf pine and black jack oak. Little under- 



14 SOME LATE WORDS 

growth. Water good and abundant. Products: Cotton, corn, pota- 
toes, cattle, lumber. Area, 8,<J00 square miles. 

The next grand division on the topographical map, is the "Bluff 
Lands." They constitute a comparatively small area of the State, but a 
very peculiar soil, that is known to the <;eolo<;ists as "loewess." Pro- 
fessor Lockett thus speaks of it: ''Soil: yellow loamy, very fertile; 
washes badly. Forest : white oaks, water oaks, pin oaks, beach, poplar, 
magnolia, holly, sweet gum, giant canes and many vines. Water scarce 
and bad. Products: cotton, corn, cane and rice. A*-ea, 2.480 square 
miles." In this division are situated almost the whole of the parish of 
West Carroll ; virtually, all of Franklin ; the ea.stern two-thirds part of 
Richland; two or three small areas of Catahoula (detached aiuLstrung 
along in the eastern portion of the parish, and tending northeast and 
southwest), altogether constituting an area not move than equivalent to 
two townships ; a small area in northeast Rapides (say the equivalent of 
two townships); nearly two townships in northwest Avoyelles, and 
several small areas in devious ribbons or narrow strips, elsewhere in the 
parish; a long strip, very narrow, running along just west of Bayou 
Cocodrie, on east of Opelousas, on past Grand Couteau, in the western 
part of St. Landry parish ; still on, a narrow strip in northwest Lafayette 
parish (constituting the Carencro hills, to Lafayette (formerly Vermil- 
\ionville) ; then, starting in a little below this town, and running south 
\n a narrow strip (here called Cote Gelee hills), and bordering some dis- 
tance the west valley of the Teche ; on past New Iberia, in Iberia parish, 
still a narrow strip, and here trending sharply west; then, in isolated 
spots, ending on the marshes bordering the bays of C6te Blanche and 
Vermillion, and constituting the remarkable islanded hills Cote Blanche, 
Grand Cote and Petite Ause — the remarkable salt mine before men- 
tioned, and otherwise known as Avery's Island. We had like to have 
forgotten to mention a hill near by the winter home of Mr. Joseph 
Jefferson, the renowned actor. Then, on the west side of the Mississippi 
river, it comes in, at the north end of the State, constituting almost the 
entire soil of West Feliciana parish ; almost all of that of East Baton 
Rouge, except a narrow strip, west on the Mississippi river, and a small 
wedge of "good uplands" in the northeast portion of the parish; then, 
bulging out, it covers the entire west of Livingston parish, and subsides 
in a small area in the southwest corner of this parish, and a little bit of 
the extreme northwest portion of Ascension parish. 

This last mentioned area is a nut not thoroughly cracked by science, 
we believe, and we do not meddle with it. Some day it may have its 
revelations below the surface. But, as revealed, it constitutes a very 
choice soil, but one needing management; and suggesting, as its choicest 
use, pasture land. Red clover flourishes on it astoundingly. 

The next division of Col. Lockett, is the " Piue Flats." This is an 
area in Calcasieu parish of cold, flat, poor land, covered much of the 
year by water. It is mainly west of the Calcasieu river, and north of 
the west branch of this river. Commencing near the Sabine river (the 
west border of the State), about three townships wide of latitude, it 
trends northeast, gradually narrowing, running through nearly ten 
townships (sixty miles), until it terminates in a small area on the Calca- 
sieu river, at a point where the -'Pine Hills" and the " Prairies" abut 
on this river. 

The next grand division of Professor Lockett, is the " Prairies." This 
is the seat and centre (near its western border) of the great Western im- 
migration, which, starting a few years ago, under the auspices of my 
predecessor, Hon. Win. II. Harris, has now transfigured it from a vast 
cattle range to a region thickly populated, and dotted with the best as- 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 15 

pects of a well-settled Western prairie State. For their snare in this 
great work of transformation, wc have sought, in the opening part of 
this article, to give the participants therein some measure of the credit 
due them. For a description of this country, we are fortunately not left 
to our own words. Other pens than ours, above the suspicion of par- 
tialty, have anticipated us. In Col. M. B. Hillyard's " The New South," 
we find extracts from the works of very eminent pens. Professor Eugene 
W. Hilgard (one of the most eminent scientists of the day, now of the 
University of Calfornia), says. " Few sections of the United States, in- 
deed, can offer such inducements to settlers as the prairie region be- 
tween the Mississippi bottoms, the Nez Pique and Mermentau Healthier, 
by far, than the prairies of the Northwest; fanned by the sea breeze ; 
well watered; the scarcity of wood rendered of less moment by the bland- 
ness of the climate, and the extraordinary rapidity with which natural 
hedges can be grown for fences; while the exuberantly fertile soil pro- 
duces both sugar cane and cotton in profusion, continuing to do so m 
auai'iy cases, after seventy years' exhaustive culture. Well may the 
Teche country be styled, by its enthusiastic inhabitants, the 'Garden of 
Louisiana.'" Of the parishes of St. Landry, Lafayette. St. Martin, 
Iberia, Vermillion and St. Mary (mainly the area included in the above 
description of Professor Hilgard); Col. Daniel Dennett writes, devoting 
to them his pamphlet before referred to, " Louisiana As It Is." From 
-copious extracts from it, in Col. Hillyard's " New South, ' we make the 
following quotations • "These six parishes contain more than 3,000,000 
acres of tillable land, most of it of inexhaustible fertility. Even most of 
the sea-marsh, and all of the swamp lands, may be reclaimed by local 
levees and draining machines, and may become the most productive rice 
and sugar lands of the State. ***** 

On thousands of acres the grass grows on a smooth surface, under the 
waving branches of noble trees. These lands are far more beautiful 
than the famous woodland pastures of Kentucky. The trees have a 
more luxuriant growth , the foliage is richer and hangs out on the broad 
branches in a more generous abundance, and the soil is rich beyond any- 
thing we ever saw in the great West. And it is the cleanest looking 
country we have ever traveled over. The beautiful smooth prairies 
look as though they had just been washed ; the grass looks like a lawn 
neatly shaved by some 'fine, old English gentleman,' who prides himself 
on his aristocratic estate. The fat herds grazing upon these green 
prairies help in giving the finishing touch to this magnificent landscape 
scenery." Again, in glowing language, he writes of it as " That magui- 
cent portion of Louisiana, west of the Mississippi, the Teche and Ope- 
lousas region, usually called 'Atakapasand St. Landry' — the land of en- 
chanting scenery, of b«autiful bayous, and glassy lakes, and bays, of 
splendid prairies, and noble forests, of pleasant skies and gentle breezes, 
the land of flowers, of beauty and of health." 

The following pen-sketch is pitched in the area described by Col. 
Dennett : 

" I never stand upon the banks at night, of poem-honored Teche, that 
romance of the olden time does not come to mind. Evangeline, the 
lovely heroine of Longfellow's immortal story, is pictured by my imagi- 
nation, hi the long ago, one moonlight night in summer, on her tender, 
futile quest of her husband, Gabriel, she ascended that lovely stream. 
Methinks the sky was tender, as it was softly bright, and that the stars 
glimmered mildly in a pathetic haze, as though they were. dewy with 
sympathy at the sorrow of her life. The winds are whist, save now and 
then the gentle sigh of soft zephyrs from the near-by gulf, perfume- 
fade ned and plaintive as though they, too, were sympathetic She 



16 SOME LATE WORDS 

is in a canoe, paddled by her escort. Gentle is the stroke of oar, so as 
to uot impair any sound that may give a clue to her anxious ear. I see 
the silvery run of water from the uplifted paddle glisten in the moon- 
light; and hear the faint tinkle of the pearly oar-drip on the lucid 
water. With strained grasp, a lily hand on either side, she holds the 
canoe. Her head is thrown forward and sidewise, face a little lifted, 
with keen-attent of ear. The light of night shows the refined pallor of her 
face, its chiseled features deep with the pathetic traits of that sorrow that 
has marked, but cannot mar, her beauty, and that has engraven on those 
lovely lineaments an exalted ami ensouled spirituality. Her large, 
sorrowfully- beautiful, midnight-eyes are "homes >t' silent prayer," and 
softly gleam with the fixed mistiness of unchanged grief. Her hair, a 
stream of downy darkness, floods her shoulders, and waves far below 
her shapely waist. Her pure, rich lips are faintly parted, and her lovely 
mouth, with the pearly setting of its teeth, looks like " a 'osebud filled. 
with snow." Slowly, almost noiselessly, glides the canoe. Now and 
then it passes the shadows of the stately magnolias that gloom the 
silvery stream here and there ; and, from tfie -ensers of their glorious 
blooms floats a fragrance that charms the air, and seems a tribute to and 
effort at lenitive of her anguish. In the odorous tree, over nead, the 
mocking bird softly shakes its lay, in a touch of low and curious plaiu- 
tiveness, one sometimes hears at night, in broken melodies ; as though it, 
too, knew her pain, and would fain attempt her soothing. On she goes. 
Fainter grows the sound of ripple from boat and tinkle of water-drip 
from paddle. Dimmer to vision becomes the figure of the sad, vigil- 
worn maiden. She is out of sight and into silence. 

The same moon and stars look dowu now, as in the long agone, when 
they lent their light in aid of her unrewarded quest. Other magnolias 
scent the midnight air, other mocking birds haunt their branches, and 
attune the night. The Teche still threads its flowery vale. Evangeline 
and her Gabriel are long ago in Heaven ; but is long as the river flows, 
and man has sensibility, and our language lives, will the Teche be dear 
to all who have read the story and looked upon the stream ; and with 
its waters tender tears will mingle, and the softened imagination limn 
the immortal maiden." 

The following (with a short introductory caption) is taken from the 
Lake Charles (Louisiana) American, and is from the pen of one of the 
most gifted and celebrated literary ladies of the State, the wife of die 
commissioner of immigration of Louisiana, Hon. Win. H. Harris : 

SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AS A HOME FOR WOMEN. 

We copy from Harper's Bazar an article under the above caption, 
written by a highly gifted and cultured lady, the wife of our late dis- 
tinguished Commissioner of Ag iculture, Hon. Wm. Harris, of Calcasieu 
parish. Mrs. Harris writes as a sensible lady from practical experience 
and a close observation of the needs and pleasures of the home. This is 
a most valuable acquisition to '»ur literature upon Southwestern 
Louisiana. It is in the ability to provide tne ideal home from the 
woman's standpoint, that this country puts forth its highest claim. We 
ask every lady to read this excellent article: 

SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AS A HOME FOR WOMEN. 
Mrs. Wm Harris, in Harper's Bazar- 

Though man may not live by ciimate alone, yet, on the other hand, 
climate is sometimes the only thing that enables a man to live at all. 
Many lands did I traverse, and much hard-earned money did I spend to 
exercise the rheumatic fiend that refused to be conjured down. Happen- 
ing a few months ago to be in Xew Orleans, I remembered that an old 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 17 



friend lived not so very far from that city, in Arcady, for so is this 
pastoral country called, having been settled many years ago by those 
exiled Acadian s from Nova Scotia, who to their country of enforced 
adoption gave the name of Acadia. I forgot for a season my ailment, 
my personal devil left without " special request," and now the only con- 
sciousness of my bones is that therein dwell many " springs." The 
never-failing breeze which blows direct from the Gulf of Mexico has no 
sting in it; it. strokes you as with a glove of fur, until soothed by its in- 
fluence, you feel happy without knowing why. It makes the skin 
smooth and soft, and if mesdames the complexion vendors could but 
bottle it, what fortunes they would make ! In this delightful climate, 
where illness is almost unknown, people acquire the habit, of living, ami 
keep on ad infinitum, until, as the proverb of the Cajuns (the descend- 
ants of the exiled Acadians), they get old, old, so old! then shrivel up. 
and blow away." 

•• Beautiful is the land witli its prairies and forest and fruit trees, 
Under the feet a garden of flowers, and the bluest of heavens 
Bending above, and resting its dome on the walk of the forest, 
They who awell there have named it the " Eden of Louisiana. '' 

So wrote Longfellow of Southwestern Louisiana, which comprises the 
parishes of St. Mary, St. Martin, Iberia, Lafayette, Vermilion, St. 
Landry, Calcasieu and Cameron. 

Would that I could preach the doctrine of cheap homes to the women 
who work fo> a beggarly wage that barely keeps breath in their body — 
those who labor early and late in stilling factories, who stand behind 
counters, and who are boudswomen to the needle! 

The government reserves thousands of acres of well-watered fertile 
prairie land, to be given away to bona fide settlers. Under the home- 
stead act woman, widow or spinster, of twenty-one years of age, may, 
upon payment of fourteen dollars at the Land Office in New Orleans, 
enter one hundred and sixty acres of land. During the next five years 
she must pay an additional sum of four dollars and seventy-five cents, 
and at the end of that time the land is inalienably her own. It is tinder- 
stood that she complies with certain requirements. Under the timber 
eultureact, upon payment of a like sum, she may become the owner 
iu three years of an additional one hundred and sixty acres of land. 

The nature of this land may be guessed, when a few years ago the 
Chicago Tribune said: " If by some supreme effort of nature western 
Louisiana, with its soil, climate and productions, could be taken up and 
transported to the latitude of Illinois and Indiana, and there be set down 
in the pathway of eastern and western travel, it would create a commo- 
tion that would throw the discovery of gold in California iu the shade at 
the. time of the greatest excitemeut. The people would rush to it in 
countless thousands Every man would be intent upon securing a few 
acres of these wonderfully productive plains." 

• Suppose a woman of sense and energy determined to make a living 
on a portion of this land — could she do it }" you ask. Statistics bristle 
with the facts of woman's success as farmers, stock-raisers, bee-keepers, 
tii. lists, poultry-breeders, in the west and northwest, under flQ >st ad- 
verse conditions of climate. And in this laud of easy conditions, in a 
climate which may L>o called perpetual spring, where growth of vegeta- 
ble life ,s marvelous, failure ought to be well nigh impossible, unless the 
woman lacked the saving grace of common sense. In the variety and 
perfection tf its products this is a wonderful region, producing all the 
trees, shrubs, fruits, cereals, and grasses grown in semi-tropical and tem- 
perate countries. What, then, could our energetic woman do ? She 



18 SOME LATE WORDS 

might, for one thing, raise sweet potatoes. They yield one hundred and 
fifty bushels per acre, with the easiest of cultivation, and are unrivalled 
as food for stock. Why also should she not send evaporated and desic- 
cated sweet potatoes to northern markets *? Perhaps vegetables would 
suit her fancy as a money crop. Every known vegetable may be grown 
here. The celery, cauliflower, and cucumbers of this region are unsur- 
passed, and gardening may be done the whole year round. 

Why should she not raise fruits? Peaches, pears, nectarines, plums, 
apples, quinces, grapes, figs, persimmons, pomegranates, oranges and 
citron grow to perfection. Strawberries, blackberries and dewberries 
are prolific. What our fruit-grower cannot send to nfarket, she may can, 
or evaporate. If she have a hand, cunning in confections, she is sure of 
many a dollar. 

To some women the care of cows if fascinating, and dairying ought to 
pay where milk sells for ten cents a quart, and butter for thirty or forty 
cents a pound, as it does here and in all the Southern cities. Grass is 
green the year round, and cows require but a minimun of extra feed. 

Then their is floriculture. Whore hedges are made of roses and 
Cape jasmines (gardenias), there must be possibilities in the culture of 
flowers. Stick anything in the ground and it grows. In cut flowers, in 
growing plants for market, in the extracting the volatile oils, the distil- 
lation of perfumes, and the rendering of the essential oils, there is a 
large amount of money to be made, and the field is not occupied. 

Bees, that find their own keep in a country which, from February to 
November is a sea of bloom, would be another source of profit. That 
woman who would supply the New Orleans market with spring chickens 
during the months of February, March, April and May, would grow rich. 
Poultry of all kinds succeed admirably, are free of disease, and hens lay 
the entire year. The cost of raising them is small, not much housing be- 
ing necessary, while they may find green food every month of the year. 

But perhaps our woman farmer may be more ambitious, and desire to 
go into stock raising. Why not? There is no occult science in raising 
pigs, shoe]), cattle and horses for the market. She may here enter into 
the lists with men. and success may smile upon her, for here, if any- 
where in the United States, may stock-raising be made profitable. 

Why should she not essay rice farming and succeed ? Do I not know 
a young Creole girl who, after her brothers had plunged their sugar 
plantation hopelessly into debt, begged their creditors for a few years' 
time, and at its expiration could show every liability met, and money 
in bank "! 

All these things, and many more, are waiting to be done by women 
who will go in for hard work with the same courage and determination 
that men give to any line of business. Nor must your pioneer expect 
to enjoy at once all the advantages common only in thickly settled 
countries. Yet let her not be dismayed. Homesteading hero is a de- 
lightful process, compared to that ordeal in the Northwest. There can 
nothing be seen but a broad expanse of barren prairie, without a school- 
house or village in sight, without settled and denned laws: no neigh- 
bors "nearer than twenty miles," no associates, no newspapers, and a 
trying ej^m ate. In Louisiana the prairies have the look of well-washed 
green lawns, which would delight the eye of even the good old English 
gentleman. Every three or four miles their continuity is broken by 
well-wooded streams. Roads are laid out and worked, making commu- 
nication easy all the year between the different districts. Churches of 
every denomination are everywhere to be seen ; an educational system 
is in force ; the laws air old-, well settled and defined, and the people 
kind, hospitable and courteous ; and the settler begins life in a region 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 19 



abuudantly supplied with all tlio essentials of civilization and refined 
life. 

Of course the great army of working women, and that multitude who 
make shirts at fifty cents a dozen, are not depositors in the savings 
banks. There are, in all our large cities, numbers of -wealthy women 
who would ghully contribute money to any practical charity. Induco 
them to form a guild to promote the independence of women. An asso- 
ciation might be formed to pay the traveling expenses of settlers, to 
enter lands, to build thereon, to stock the farms with necessary imple- 
ments and animals to make a crop, and to provide sufficient food until 
each family should be self-sustaining. To relieve itself of the odium of 
charity, it .'might consider itself a loan association, lending its funds 
upon easy terms and longtime. 

This country might also well be the " Promised Land" to numbers of 
other women, more happily circumstanced perhaps than those just 
cited, yet who are restless, dissatisfied with -the limitations imposed 
upon them by sex, and who feel within them the stirring of financial 
and executive possibilities in lines of business not orthodoxly feminine. 
There ought to be, willing to enter in and take possession, a cloud of 
hard-worked and underpaid school teachers who, however, have con- 
trived to save a little; then there are the shoals of single women with 
certain fixed incomes of their own, but who live more or less dependent, 
undeveloped lives in the homes of married brothers and sisters. Theso 
wonld not need the aid of any association, but might find co-operatiou 
among congenial mates and advantage. 

Thefore send us an army of women workers in this "good land, a 
land of brooks, of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of 
the valleys and hills ; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig 
trees, and pomegranates ; a laud of oil, olive and honey ; a land where- 
in thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything 
in ir.'* 

The leader ought to remember that Acadia parish (since the above 
was written, cut off from South St. Landry parish) is entitled to the 
benefits of the above language of Col. Dennett. 

Again, it must be borne in mind that the relation to Prof. Hilgard's 
language, the prairie west of the Nez Pique seems not included. Now, 
the bulk of the Western immigration is west of the Nez Pique. As 
early as two years ago, it had lapped from the Mermenteau and the Nez 
Pique bayous, as far as Lake Charles (and even beyond), and from 
twenty miles or more north of Jennings to Lake Arthur (some ten 
miles south), and is even beginning to creep into Vermilion parish, (also 
a lovely country), and almost untouched by immigration ; from Lake 
Arthur to Abbeville, a belt of country forty miles long and from nine to 
twelve miles bmad south of Bayou Queue de Tortue and east of Lake 
Arthur. It is deemed utterly superfluous here to commend a country 
populated by over a thousand Western families, in which they have 
lived for years ; which they have tried thoroughly, and with which they 
are delighted; which country is outside and west of Prof. Hilgard's de- 
scr p'ion. 

The topography of most of this prairie is level or flat. The streams 
are wooded with cypress, oaks, iuckories, gum, etc., and some of the 
trees are large. The open prairies are unwooded, and firewood is 
jrtanted — little being needed — and consists of the China tree (mainly), a 
last, growing tree. Catalpa is largely planted, too. 

The immigrants there are moving on all the lines of advanced agricul- 
ture; fruit raising, grass growing, hay making, stock (improved) rais- 
ins:, etc 



20 SOME LATE WORDS 



We now append Prof. Lockett's brief description of the "Prairies" on 
the topographical map in question : "Prairies — Soil: Grayish yellow, 
good and improves with use ; treeless, grass covered, with coulees bor- 
dered with timber, and 'marais' filled with rank, tall grass; water not 
good. Products: Cattle, corn, cane, rice. Area, 3800 square miles." 

We think it but just to say that the expression, " water not good" is 
rather too sweeping as applied to all that country.* It is quite certain 
that we have credible testimony, from Western sentiment, to the con- 
trary. The prairie is situated iu the parishes west of the Teche to the 
Sabine river, and in the southwest portion of the State, and is in the 
parishes of Calcasieu, Acadia, St. Landry, Lafayette, St. Martin, New 
Iberia and St. Mary. 

The next grand division, by Lockett, on his topographical map, is the 
"Alluvial Land." This area he thus characterizes: "Soil: Black, 
dark red and reddish gray; very fertile. Forest: Water and live oaks, 
gums, willows, cottouwood, elms, ash, etc.; cane-breaks common, high- 
est on banks of streams. Products : Cotton, corn, cane, tobacco, rice, 
oranges, bananas, etc. Area, 5,000 square miles." This area is one of 
the most fertile spots on earth, and one of the most enduring soils. 
Corn, cotton and rice are the main crops, and corn, oats and hay (mainly 
peavine) are merely adjuncts. From Col. M. B. Hillyard's book, " The 
New South," we copy the following, there accredited to a work of Dr. 
Joseph Jones: "Louisiana possesses, perhaps, the most fertile soil of 
any of the States of this Union, in virtue of the large proportions of the 
alluvium of the Mississippi Valley inclosed within her borders." 

"As is well known, a wide belt of recent alluvium borders the Missis- 
sippi river, from the mouth of the Ohio to the Gulf, seventy-five miles 
wide in the greatest expansion at Napoleon, and twenty-five miles in its 
greatest contraction, at Natchez and Helena. The area of the alluvial 
tract, above the delta, is 19,450 square miles. The depth of the alluvial 
deposits from Cairo to New Orleans ranges between twenty-five and 
forty feet. 

The area of the delta of the Mississippi river, which lies almost wholly 
within the borders of Louisiana, assuming that it begins where the river 
sends off its first branch to the sea, namely at the mouth of bayou Atcha- 
falaya, is estimated at 12,300 square miles. This would be at the mouth 
of Red river, iu latitude 31 ° , whilst the mouths of the Mississippi are in 
latitude 29°, so that the delta extends through two degrees of space. 
The entiie delta is elevated but a few feet above the level of the Gulf of 
Mexico, and from its fertile sod, and from its proximity to the Mississippi 
river and bayous, is perhaps as fertile as any body of land in this or on 
any continent, and is admirably adapted to the cultivation of rice and 
.sugar- cane." 

But the reader must be careful not to confound the delta of the Missis- 
sippi river with the "■Alluvial lj<ui<h, v of Prof. Lockett's classification. 
While much o! the "Alluvial Lands" are in the delta, there are consid- 
erable areas of "Alluvial Lands" on Red river, the Ouachita, etc., and 
there is a considerable area of marsh land, " Coast Swamp," as Prof. 
Lockett terms it, iu the delta of the Mississippi river. Then it must be 
remembered that, according to Dr v Jones, the delta only begins at the 
mouth of Red river, leaving all the area in the Mississippi bottom, out- 
ride and above the delta, to be classed as "Alluvial Lands." 

*Prr>fessor Eugene Hilgard, in his "Supplementary and Fiual Report of a 
Geological Reconnoissuice of the State of Louisiana," says of a part of Cal- 
casieu prairie : "Pretty good well water is obtained here at fifteen to twenty 
feet." 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 21 



The north boundaries of Louisiana, on either side the Mississippi 
river, are not coterminous. On the west side the river, the north 
boundary of Louisiana is the State of Arkansas, across its whole area from 
the Mississippi east to the west boundary of the State of Texas. This 
north boundary, Set ween Arkansas, is not a natural, but an arbitrary 
■one, and is a straight line due cast and west. On the east side of the 
river, Louisiana is fronted by Mississippi State for over a hundred and 
twenty-rive miles in an air line, south. The river, for this distance, is 
the boundary between these States. After awhile the river runs through 
Louisiana, thus giving both sides of the river a bottom in the State. 
As a consequence, there is very little of "Alluvial Lands" on the 
Mississippi river, on its east side, in the State : Ascension and St. James 
parishes representing its chief areas there. But to the point, now, of 
denominating the areas in the " Alluvial Lands," beginning at the 
northernmost parish in the State, at the point where the Mississippi 
river touches its territory : West Carroll is entirely in the belt; as are 
Madison, Tensas, Concordia, Point Coupee and West Baton Rouge. 

These parishes all succeed each other south. Iberville, both south 
and west of the last parish, has most ot its territory on the west side of 
the river, in the "'Alluvial Lands," but a little area projects to the east 
side ; and all the parish is " Alluvial Land." Then comes a very small 
part of Ascension parish, on the west side — the main body being on the 
east side of the river. Next follows Assumption parish — all its territory 
west of the river, and in the " Alluvial Lands." Between its east 
boundary (it has no front on the Mississippi river), a little area of St. 
James parish is on the west side the river, its main area being east of it. 
Still coming southward, and trending with, but not touching the river, 
comes the parish of Lafourche ; it all being in the " Alluvial La,nd" belt, 
except some spots of " Coast Marsh," as it is denominated by Prof. 
Lockett, on the map in the premises. East of Lafourche parish, and 
south of St. James, a small area of St. John Baptist parish is west the 
river, leaving its main area on the east side. Then comes St. Charles, 
the river throwing about an equal quantity of "Alluvial Lands" 
on either side. South of Lafourche parish, west of the river, comes 
that of Terrebonne. This parish terminates in long, sprangling, anten- 
na' like points, in the marsh. These capes of land look like the human 
hand, with open fingers: the capes standing for the fingers, and the in- 
tervening spaces occupied by the "Coast Marsh." And down these 
capes, course streams, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. This parish 
lias no part of its territory on the Mississippi river. South of St. Charles 
parish, and adjoining it on the river, is Jefferson. Its area is split, too, 
by the river; throwing a small area of "Alluvial Lands" on either side 
of the stream. Down the liver, and succeeding Jefferson, on either side, 
is Plaquemine parish. There are narrow areas of "Alluvial Lands," 
mere strings of this sort of land, looking like raveled shreds of the solid 
tissue a hove. Opposite, on the east side of the river, is a body of this 
"Alluvial Lands,'* carved into devious shapes by the incisions of "Coast 
Marsh " areas. On this area of "Alluvial Lands," on east of the river, 
Orleans parish, is bnilt the city of New Orleans. On the east side the 
river, and south of Orleans parish, is that of St. Bernard. This parish 
has a narrow strip of "Alluvial Lands" bordering the river, another 
body sprangling off southeast, and still another skirting south and south- 
west of Lake Borgne. Going back now to the territory of "Alluvial 
Lands," on the east side of the river, where the north boundary of 
Louisiana abuts upon the south line of Mississippi, by an arbitrary divi- 
sion running east and west, we rind a strip of West Feliciana parish in 
the territory of the "Alluvial Lands" — a narrow area, bulging out here 



22 SOME LATE WORDS 

and there, like a pocket, in the bends of the river, and running the 
whole of its western boundary. Then south, succeeds the parish of East 
Baton Rouge, with a small area of the "Alluvial Lands" adjoining the 
river on the north and south sides of the west side of the parish, and ter- 
minating on the river. At Baton Rouge — the Capital of the State — the 
''Bluff Lands" penetrate to the river, intervening between the ''Alluvial 
Lands" area north and south of it. Into Livingston parish jut several 
small points of the "Alluvial Lands," on its south border; from this area 
that proceeds in such force in Ascension parish. Thus we have, very 
unsatisfactorily, given a rough description of the "Alluvial Lauds" ad- 
jacent to the Mississippi river, and mainly in its bottom. Much of it is a 
strip of land, behind levees, to keep out overflow, backed by "swamps." 
In proportion to area, a mere ribbon of laud is cleared and in cultiva- 
tion. The "swamps" (so-called), is wooded area, susceptible of being 
made arable, and is not irreclaimable, as might be supposed ; but is hard' 
firm soil, not yet wrested from the forest. The area, in the main, is 
densely populated ; divided into plantations, with narrow fronts, and 
limning back to various distances. Every plantation once had a superb 
home (and many are still line), with groves of magnolia, live oak or pecan, 
sometimes all these, with a sugar house and " quarters" for the slaves — 
long rows of cabins on either side of a single street. All were within 
easy view of the river, and "the floating palaces" once plying the Miss- 
issippi river, steamed by the very doors of the villas, and stopped on the 
fronts for passengers and freight. Before the war,' this country was one 
of the richest and most prosperous parts of the United States, and its 
hospitality was most cordial, lavish and cultured. Its inhabitants were 
badly broken in the storms of the late war, but are now recuperating. 
No traveler ought to miss riding up or down the river just to view the 
country. On either side the river now, above New Orleans, a railroad 
runs near the riv.r; one, the Mississippi Valley, clear along the east 
side, and the Tcxa - and Pacific on the west side, for some way. South 
of New Urleans, 01, the east side, runs the Gulf and Shell Beach railroad 
quite a distance; and, on the west bank, below New Orleans, another 
railroad is to be built. Below New Orleans are some of the handsomest 
and largest orange groves in the world ; all around New Orleans, and for 
some distance above, upon the river, are many ; and there is a large area 
about, below and west of the river in the orange-belt proper. 

In West Carroll parish there is a narrow strip of " Alluvial Lands" of 
the' Mississippi bottom iu its middle-western border. In the parishes of 
Richland and Franklin, on their east lines, is also a vein of the same 
territory, which is, suboidinately, bavou Macon bottom. Catahoula 
parish has a wide east side of these " Alluvial Lands ; " the Mississippi 
bottom there stretching away to the " Pine Hills " classification, al- 
though it is locally considered as bottoms of the various bayous travers- 
ing the area. In Avoyelles parish there is much "Alluvial Lands," a 
sort of common bottom of the Mississippi, Red and Atchafalaya rivers. 
In cast St. Landry this " Alluvial Lauds" stretches west, to a little east 
of Chicot, Opelousas and Grand Coteau, with the exception of narrow 
strips of prairies skirting the Teche on either side, starting a few miles 
southeast of Opelousas, and running iu that direction to near Franklin, 
in St. Mary parish. This " Alluvial Lauds" belt iu St. Landry parish, 
(the " Delta," under the description of Dr. Joseph Jones, and in general 
terms the Mississippi river bottom) is, subordinately, the bottoms of ba- 
yous Ro: „;e, Wauksha, Crocodile, BoBiif, Courtableau, Teche, Atchafala- 
ya et al. St. Martin parish is largely in the " Alluvial Lands" bottom 
of the Mississippi river (with 'skirts of prairie along the Teche, on either 
side, on its western border, all through it, from north to south), but, sub- 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 23 



ordinatcly, in the bottoms of the Teche, Atchafalaya and otlior bayous. 
Then comes Iberia parish, with its cast parts in the " Alluvial Lands" of 
the Mississippi bottom, and, subordinate^, the bottoms of the Teche ana 
Grand Lake, with skirts of prairie on cither side the Teche, narrow on 
the east side, and from six to twelve miles wide on the west side. Then 
comes St. Mary parish, with two distinct branches of " Alluvial Lands " 
in the Mississippi river bottom, thrown into these divisions by the waters 
of Grand Lake, which, running nearly due north and south, divides the 
area. And, Subordinately, this area is termed bottoms of the Teche, At- 
chafalaya, Grand Lake and Grand river. With the exception of a nar- 
row area of prairie in the northwest corner of St. Mary parish, all its 
land is in Prof. Lockett's classification of "Alluvial Lands" and "Coast 
Marsh," including " Wooded Swamps," winch isacommon territory with 
the " Alluvial Lands, " as will hereafter more fully appear. 

We have thus far denominted the "Alluvial Lands" with regard to 
their situations in the Mississippi bottom — in a large and most compre- 
hensive sense — and the delta of the same. 

We now proceed to locate the " Alluvial Lands " of Louisiana, 
situated elsewhere. They are next in force in the valley of Red 
river. This river enters the State of Louisiana in its northwest 
corner, where it adjoins the State of Arkansas, about eighteen miles 
from the west boundary of the State, and runs nearly due south, in its 
main course, between the parishes of Caddo and Bossier. Except an in- 
significant area in the extreme northwest corner of the latter parish, and 
a much more considerable area along the southwest, south and southeast 
border, this parish has virtually all its alluvial lands. On the west bank 
of the river, a long, narrow strip of the bottom or valley of this river 
constitutes "Alluvial Lands," most of the bottom being' almost entirely 
on the Caddo side, west of the river, for nearly twenty-live miles after it 
enters the north side ^ f ti.8 State. At Shreveport, or near by, the river 
sharply trends souther.- d the " Good Uplands" come prominently 
forward thei»-, for a little way of the river's course, throwing the bottom 
into. Bossier on the upper side ; and this happens at several points above 
Shreveport (although the hills do not come so near the river), with a 
corresponding result, on the opposite area, in Bossier parish, of widen- 
ing the bottom in the latter parish. Both Caddo and Bossier are long, 
narrow parishes, from fifty to sixty miles long, and, in no place, 6*ver 
about twenty wide. Their lands are entirely in Lockett's division of 
the "Good Uplands" and " Alluvial Lands." and this fact constitutes 
them an area of remakable fine lands; for it may as well be said here, 
as anywhere, that the lands of the lied river valley are of superb quali- 
ty, and the Western Stock-raiser and grass-grower will be delighted to 
learn that red clover flourishes on them as though it were indigenous. 
From Shreveport, the reader hears in mind that the river trends south- 
east, on its way to the Mississippi. Leaving Bossier and Caddo, ittlows 
through the parish of lied river, making a thin strip of" Alluvial Lands," 
in its bottom along its west side bo d r, in DeSoto parish ; but much 
of the force of its valley is in Red river parish. Its valley, in this 
parish, is about ten miles wide, in the main, by about twenty-four long, 
and containing about as much "Alluvial Lands." In Bed river parish 
its bulk of bottom south of the stream, as Bossier and some less than 
Caddo Of both DeSoto and bed river parishes may be said that their 
entire area are in the classification of the '' Good Uplands" and the "Allu- 
vial Lands." The valley of Red river, in the parish of that name, is on 
Red iis entire west, southwest and south border. From this last parish the 
river enters the parish of Natchitoches, and courses through the entire 
parish, giving all its bottom to tho parish. Counting only its air-line 



24 SOME LATE WOKDS 

distance, as a crow should fly, and not regarding bends, from the point 
where it enters in the northwest corner of the parish to the point where 
it departs, on the southwest, it will be found to travi tie, more or less, 
ten townships j and we suppose that, estimating its distance around 
bends, there must be a mileage considerably in excess of the breadth of 
the townships. In one place iu Upper Natchitoches, its bottom must 
be twenty or more miles wide, and, nowhere in the parish is it less than 
eighth to ten miles in width. The bottom varies in width along the 
course of the river, now wider on this side, than on that, back and forth. 
Thus, this whole parish has a tine area of tins grand Red river " Alluvial 
Lands." And, an area, Cane river, subordiuately, has one of the love- 
liest-looking country, iu some respects, ever seen. The southwest 
fourth part, thereabouts, and au area in the northeast part of the par- 
ish, are iu the "Pine Hills " belt, as has been previously noted. 

Leaving Natchitoches parish, the Red river enters Grant parish, at 
its county seat, Colfax, and throws into this parish a little area of its 
bottom, making, in the extreme southwestern corner, ?i piece of " Allu- 
vial Lands" about the equivalent of two townships in size. All the rest 
of this parish is in the belt known as the " Pine Hills," except a thread 
of territory about fifteen miles long, on the bottom of Little river, on the 
east side of the pari- h. This is "Alluvial Lands," and it is, approxi- 
mately, from one-half to three miles wide. After its short run in Grant 
parish, Red river takes a long run through Rapides parish. The river bot- 
tom is here skirted on either side by the "Pine Woods" belt, as in all of 
Grant and southern Natchitoches parishes, and the river hugs the pine 
woods on its northern side to some distance below Alexandria — the county 
seat — making a narrow skirt of bottom on its north side, and throwing the 
main width of " Alluvial Lands" on the south side of the stream. This 
belt is about two townships (twelve miles) wide in Rapides parish, and 
prevails through about five townships in length, making fifty miles or 
more around be !s. In this parish, the Bayou Beeuf makes, by ita 
bottom, a very li.ic character of "Alluvial Lauds," and adds to the area 
above allotted to the Red river valley, a considerable body of soil 
very like the Red river valley lands, and which is a fine sugar land. 
About twenty-five miles below Alexandria, Red river turns sharply to 
the north, at a point about half way down the west boundary of 
Avoyelles parish (the east boundary of Rapides), and then " snakes" its 
way northeast, in northwest Avoyelles, and makes a devious boundary 
between this parish and Catahoula; the hitter here due north of the 
former. Almost the whole of Avoyelles parish is iu the belt of " Allu- 
vial Lands" and the " wooded swamps," the former a correlative of the 
latter, by reason of various bottoms of several bayous, and also another 
section of bottom, on the east side of the parish of Red river ; this river 
marking its east boundary, and there running south. The south line of 
Catahoula parish is in the "Alluvial Lands" belt, by reason of being in 
the Red river bottom there, and also by reason of being in the bottoms 
of the Tensas and other bottoms. These areas of bottom lands consti- 
tute a rim of land all along east Catahoula, and a heavy body in the 
south and southwest of the parish of "Alluvial Lands." Soon after 
leaving Avoyelles parish, the Red river empties into the Mississippi 
river in Pointe Coupee parish, and this we have denoted in our matter, 
on the "Alluvial Lands" district of the latter river. 

The Ouachita river and its tributaries constitute the next large area 
of "Alluvial Lands" of the State. At Trinity, in Catahoula parish, the 
Tensas and Ouachita rivers join and constitute the Black river — the 
latter running down as the boundary between Concordia and Catahoula 
parishes, and joining the Red river where the latter courses past across- 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 25 



the south boundary of Catahoula. At Trinity, the Tensas runs north- 
east, and makes the boundary between this parisli and the parishes of 
Concordia and Tensas, for a part of its course ; and makes a long, nar- 
row strip of 'Alluvial Lands," on its bottom in Catahoula parisli, 
from Trinity up to the lruth line of ihe parish. From 
Trinity, the Ouachita runs north, past Harrison burgh — the parisli seat — 
where the areas, known in our classification as rhe "Good Uplands" and 
" Bluff Lands,'' approach the river and nuro.v its bottom greatly, and 
it deflects still more northwest, after escaping the environments of the 
hills of these two grand topographical divisions. A little before the 
■encroachment of 'lie hills, just alluded to, he Bieuf river (to be dis- 
tinguished from Bayou Basuf 'Miters rhe Ouachita. Above the junction, 
the Boetrf river and Ouachita run nearly parallel, gradually diverging, 
and both flowing, approximately, from ihe northwest, for a distance, 
until the Boeuf trends northeast. 'Hie bottoms of these streams consti- 
tute a considerable body of tin 1 "Alluvial Lands" of Caldwell parish, 
and nearly half its eastern area; a long, narrow neck of "Good Up- 
lands," projecting north and south through the whole parish, and 
separating the "Aljuvial Lauds " from the "Pine Hill," which last tra- 
verse the Whole west side of the parish, north and south, as the 
"Alluvial Lands" do on the east side. 

Near Columbia, the parish scat of Caldwell parish, the bayou La- 
fourche (there is a stream of the same name in Lafourche parisli, in the 
southert. part of the State) makes a junction with the Ouachita, river 
Both flow through Ouachita parish, north of Caldwell. These streams 
and the bayou Bumf river, nine or ten miles east of Bayou Lafourche, 
make, with their bottoms, a solid area of '-Alluvial Lands" across the 
southwest corner of Ouachita parisli. An oval-shaped area of the 
" Good Uplands" comes down from Northeast Ouachita, well down to 
its south boundary, on the east side of the parish This protrusion of 
hill lands separates the common bottom prevailing in the south of the 
parish and divides the streams for all the balance of the parish. Going 
north, we find a long, narrow belt on the east side of the ridge of "Good 
Uplands," which is the bottom of the Lafourche. On the west side of 
the ridge is found the bottom of the Ouachita river, making, through 
Central Ouachita, north and south, a belt of "Alluvial Lands," about 
half a township wide, except where an arm is projected east ; the bottom 
of the bayou Lanniere. The Ouachita flows on past Monroe — the 
parish seat of Ouachita — and is found coming down from Arkansas 
through Union parish, and making the east boundary between 
this parish and that of Morehouse, Before entering the 
former (say seven miles) a prong is thrown oft' northwest, meandering 
from northwest of Fa nnersville, the parish seat of Union. This is the 
bayou d'Arbonne. Its bottom, from its body (as traced on the map), 
from Central Union parish to its junction with the Ouachita, in North 
Central Ouachita parish, is about twenty-four miles long, and from two 
to four miles wide, constituting a long, narrow strip of "Alluvial Lands." 
A few miles north of the junction just alluded to, the bayou Loutre runs 
down from Southeast Union parish and enters the Ouachita, making a 
triangular area of bottom, with the point in Union, the base in North- 
east Ouachita parish. This portion of "Alluvial Lands," in both 
parishes, constitutes about the equivalent of a township in area. The 
Ouachita bottom, in East Union parish, is about thirty miles long, and 
from two to six or eight miles wide, adding to the parish that much 
"Alluvial Lands." In West Morehouse the bottom of Ouachita is wider, 
say from four to eight miles, and about twenty-four long. And the bayou 
Bartholomew, running southwest from Arkansas into the Ouachita river, 



26 SOME LATE WORDS 

from Northeast Morehouse, clear across the parish, adds another narrow 
strip of "Alluvial Lands," say thirty miles long, and three to i;welve 
miles (with the bottoms of subordinate streams joining the Barfholmew 
from the north), wide. Coming to bayou Lafourche and Boeuf river, we 
find them both making a body of solid bottom — "Alluvial Lauds" — 
along all west Richland parish, from its north to south lines, about thirty - 
tive miles, and from three to nine wide. The Bayou Lafourche forks iu 
iu northwest Richland parish and southeast Morehouse. Its northeast 
fork becomes, for some distance, the boundary between the parishes — 
the southern of the former, the northern boundary of the latter. Its 
west or north fork — as you please — is little Bayou Boeuf — not Boeuf 
river — and is the boundary between Morehouse parish southwest and 
west for a part of the way, and Ouachita northeast and partly north. 
The northeast fork and the Boeuf river — some miles further east — make 
a common body or belt of the "Alluvial Lands," for quite a distance, in 
east Morehouse! Then the river Boeuf and the bayou Bonne Idee form a 
body. A few miles north, the latter flows through a belt of "Good Up- 
lands" (a large body coming down from north Morehouse well south, and 
constituting a large portion of its central area), and then the Boeuf river 
bottom constitutes the balance of the "Alluvial Lands" on the east side 
of the parish, clear to the north border. This Boeuf river, for nearly all 
the distance where West Carroll, on its west side, adjoins Morehouse 
parish ou its east side, is the boundary between these parishes; and it 
makes a bottom and a belt of "Alluvial Lauds" in east Morehouse and 
West Carroll. The body of "Alluvial Lands " in east Morehouse is an 
unbroken belt, stretching clear along the east boundary of the parish, 
from the north to the south lines, through more than six townships, of 
variant widths, from a mile or two, in its extreme southwest area, to 
twelve or more in the widest part. In West Carroll, the Boeuf river bot- 
tom constitutes a belt of "Alluvial Lands," along all the west border 
from south to north, until the "Bluff Lands" come to the river in a 
limited area of the northwest corner, and eliminate the former quality of 
lands. In west West Carroll, this "Alluvial Lands" belt stretches from 
the south bine north, through about three townships, and is from one or 
two, to six or more miles wide. 

Going over, now, to the extreme west side of the State, we find the 
Sabine river making a long, narrow belt of the "Alluvial Lands." From 
a little north of Logausport, and a little above latitude 32 degrees, the 
Sabine river is the boundary between the States of Louisiana and 
Texas. It runs through eleven or twelve townships southeast, tlieu 
bends sharply south two townships or more; then trends about south, 
southwest twelve townships, and then southwest, two or more town- 
ships. It traverses about two and a hajf degrees of latitude, in covering 
the west side of the State. It makes a narrow fringe of bottom iu 
Louisiana, constituting a mere rim of "Alluvial Lands," never so wide 
as a township, and varying from two to five miles in width. Beginning 
a little above Logausport, in southwest DeSoto, and coming south or 
southerly, it gives a ribbon of "Alluvial Lands" there. It flows past 
all west Sabine, past all west Vernon, past all west Calcasieu, past all 
west Cameron parishes, and is lost iu the Gulf of Mexico, at Sabine Pass, 
in the extreme southwest corner of this parish and of the State of 
Louisiana. 

In southwest Calcasieu, the "Coast Marsh" makes a neck of land into 
and west of the " Prairies," and the classification of the bottom of the 
Sabire falls as "Alluvial Lands," aud is put into the* category of "Coast 
Marsh," which denomination it holds to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Thua, w<* have tried to ^ive somw idea ol the localities and extent of 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 27 



the "Alluvial Lands" of Louisiana, as located on Locket t's topographi- 
cal map of the State. But the reader must not believe that these are 
any more than only approximate. Every brook and stream has more or 
less bottom, consequently more or less " Alluvial Lands.'' These brooks 
and creeks are innumerable ; as North and Central Louisiana are fairly 
veined with them; and, owing to our rainfall being so great, and so 
well distributed throughout the year; owing to our abundant springs, 
and shaded bottoms, preventing rapid evaporation : owing to our at- 
mosphere containing such a degree of moisture as to prevent that rapid 
absorption as is so marked in very dry climates, our streams are abid- 
ing in their flow (mainly), and are not freshet streams; now bank-full 
and then bed-dry, as is the ca.se in many localities. Then, the depth of 
our streams is something wonderful ; often a narrow, insignifieant- 
looking bayou (in point of width), has a depth, even in dry weather and 
lowest water, that astonishes the uninformed. Twenty feet depth is 
not uncommon, and sometimes thirty or more is found in a narrow 
stream that average conjecture would guess to be only five or six feet 
deep. It is a most forcible illustration of our wealth and inexhaustible- 
ness of water, and giving potent hints to the stock-raiser and those 
seeking water powers. And, the navigability of many of our streams is 
full of promise, when the future towns shall need them. The Ouachita, 
for illustration, is navigable, at times, up into Arkansas. 

Next, we take Up Lockett's classification succeeding the category of 
" Alluvial Lands" — that of '• Wooded Swamps." We have endeavored 
to prepare the reader's mind for certain explanations, by saying, in- 
cidentally, that the "Alluvial Lands" is a correlative of the "Wooded 
Swamps." Once, the "Alluvial Lands" were "Wooded Swamps." 
The accroachments of agriculture have wrested from the forests and 
swamps much of tlie land in the category of " Wooded Swamps," and 
have placed it .in that of "Alluvial Lands." As population conies in; 
as the forests are cleared and drained, the "Wooded Swamps" disap- 
pear; and the "Alluvial Lands" obtain. Settling on the edge, of the 
stream at first, the agriculturist hewed his plantation or farm out of. the 
forest. As the land, at and near the bank of the river, is generally 
higher than back, the land was cleared near the river, and the lower 
land back (especially if prone to overflow badly or cut with sloughs — 
"slues," in common parlance, — or covered iri spots with ponds), left, to 
the forest. This was, and is called "swamp." But, the term (in the 
main) is misleading ; and nothing is more common than to find one man 
with a "swamp" near the stream back of his arable land, while his 
neighbor has arable land away back of his neighbor's "swamp." The 
only difference is, that the former has not cleared his "swamp" (which 
is only forest), while the latter has. \Vv have ridden for miles through 
"swamps" back of plantations, where there is no difference between it 
and the river front, except that, from the latter, the trees have been 
cut and the stumps removed, while the former is wooded ; and, with the 
further exception, that the uncleared land, being virgin soil, is even 
more fertile than the cleared land wrested from the "swam])" twenty, 
thirty, fifty, maybe a hundred, years before. Let the reader, therefore, 
not become possessed of the idea that the "swamp" is a bog or morass. 
There is but little such land in the State. There are few "swamps" that 
are not readily rcclaiinahle. They are (mainly,) hard, firm soil, and 
only need sunlight and deforestation to make them the equals, and even 
superiors, of the cleared land, on the river's or stream's front. From the 
above, it may be seen that the terms of Professor Lockett's map are 
measurably misleading; for much land once "Swamp Lands" is now, iu 
fact, "Alluvial Lands ;"' and the area of the latter is constantly enlarging, 



28 SOME LATE WORDS 

while that of the former is constantly decreasing. And then, as an 
illustration of the truth of our delineation, and of the results of the late 
war, and its consequently crippled agriculture, some of the noblest 
plantations, wfiere, under the old regime superb crops of cotton, 
sugar cane, etc., were, once raised, have reverted to forests 
for much of their areas ; and are, to-day, under the false 
and misleading nomenclature of the localities, denominated 
"swamps" — a most vicious or pernicious provincialism. So, 
even in his day, Professor Lockett's topographical map was only meant 
10 he approximate. He could not give all the localities where the trees 
he allots to the "Wooded Swamps" category are to be found. Many, 
and even all, of the same trees grew elsewhere. He only meant to deli- 
neate the 'predominant growth, and where it obtained in force. It would 
be a task ot years to revise his work. We can only vaguely follow him, 
and point out (mainly, only, too,) the localities he delineates. But, the 
reader must only estimate our work as a clue. Let him not rely upon it 
as an assurance. For it must not be lost sight of, that there are scores of 
saw mills in this State cutting cypress alone, and that they are cutting 
all sorts of lumber; that millions of cross- ties, and much bridge timber 
are being hewed, or have been ; that speculators have bought much ; that 
an army of workers are in the cypress-annihilating industries; and that 
tens of thousands of acres have been cut over, and the trees removed. 
We now proceed to quote Professor Lockett's description of these 
"Wooded Swamps:" "Subjected to deep overflow ; not arable. In- 
tersected by lakes, bayous and sloughs. Forest: W r illow, cypress, tupo- 
la, gums. Product : Cypress, timber. Area, 4,300 square miles. Area 
of water surface, 4,700 square miles." When it is said that the above 
land is not " arable " and " subject to deep overflow," it is meant fas we 
take it), to apply to their then conditions. Land in forest is not, as for- 
est, arable ; but this does not mean that it may not become arable, by be- 
ing cleared. And, it is certain that, more or less land that was, at the 
time the topographical map was constructed, "Wooded Swamps," is 
now in cultivation, having been cleared. And the phrase, "subject to 
deep overflow," requires explanation and qualification. This topogra- 
phical map was published in the year 1872. Then, many of the levees 
(especially along the Mississippi river), were down, or in wretched re- 
pair, and the " Alluvial Lands," as well as the " Wooded Swamps," were 
" subject to overflow," because of the high waters of that river ; and 
then, that language, in exactitude, was applicable to both. But, since 
then, the levees have been rebuilt and improved, and it is now claimed 
that the country naturally " subject to deep overflow," by high water in 
the Mississippi river, is safe from overflow, in the main ; especially that 
inhabited or subjected to the plow. Of course, if the higher land along 
the river was liable (or subject) to overflow, the "Wooded Swamps" 
back were subject to still deeper overflow. And, if the high land there is 
not subject to overflow now, by reason of the perfection of the levees, the 
lower lands back, or "Wooded Swamps," are not because these cannot, in 
mani/ cases, be overflowed, but from the front. Of course, it is not meant 
that there are not many " Wooded Swamps " now, that are not " subject 
to deep overflow," because many streams are not leveed; but, in many 
"subject to this deep overflow," the water runs down in a few hours, or 
a day or two ; being only overflowed by freshets from rains ; and this 
does not prevent these areas from being put in grass, for stock-raising, 
or even cultivated crops; and there are many such areas (cleared now), 
where the latter state of affairs exists. And here we would emphasize 
the fact that many of these " Wooded Swamps" would make the finest 
of all possible stock-ranges or pastures, if put in Kentucky blue grass, 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 29 



white clover, etc., and are, in point of fact, very fine now, as " switch 
cane" is abundant in many, if not most, of them. 

With the above explanations, we proceed to locate various areas of the 
" Wooded Swamps," as Professor Lockett terms them. We are much 
aided by the following communication from an eminent authority on the 
matter in question. It is invaluable, because it gives the newest or 
latest status of affairs, and from one of the most authoritative experts of 
the State, or even the South: 

"The prevalent belief as to the unlimited area of swamps and timber- 
ed swamp lands within tie St;,t- of Louisiana, is of the most exaggera- 
ted type. The prejudices which have existed for years in the minds of 
the people iu the uplands, as to the State of Louisiana being one-half 
marsh or swamps, is one of those ignorancies which more naturally be- 
long to the dark ages and the unlettered people. It is notmy purpose to 
relet to the uplands, nor the high alluvial lauds of Louisiana, but to 
confine my statements entirely to the swamps and the cypress brakes. 
The map which was issued by Lockett, of the State of Louisiana, 
very clearly indicates and specifies the various" differences in character 
of the lands and timber of Louisiana. Apparently, these map indica- 
tions by Lockett cover an immense area, and correctly so. But since 
1880 there have been decided natural and artificial means employed and, 
literally, at work reclaiming an enormous portion of this vast, classified 
" wooded swamps," and it will be no rash, but a broad assertion to state 
that over one-fourth of the "wooded swamps" area of Louisiana has 
been restored to what might, by courtesy, be called "Highland Swamps." 
We have simply to refer to the closing of the vast crevasses which 
deluged the parishes of East and West Carroll ; parts of Morehouse, 
Madison, Tensas, Concordia; parts of Richland, Franklin, Catahoula, 
Pointe Coupee, Avoyelles ; parts of Iberville, Assumption, Terrebonne, 
Jefferson, Plaquemines, on the west bank of the Mississippi river and 
on the east bank ; the volumes of flood which filled all the swamps in 
St. John Baptiste, St. Charles; part of St. James and Livingston par- 
ishes, since the levee system was inaugurated, and which has been regu- 
larly and systematically enlarged and strengthened. These rich lands, 
in the parishes above referred to, and which have, for years, been classi- 
fied as " wooded swamps," or overflowed, have been brought back to 
the standard of hard-wood timber and rich alluvial lands. And, to-day, 
we see lauds yielding their fine crops of corn, and cotton, and hay, 
where a few years ago boatmen in their pirogues and skiffs paddled 
from mound to mound, carrying provender for imperiled live stock. 
And the vast area of swauq) and overflowed lauds have been reduced to 
the narrow compass of the lowlands, marshes and cypress brakes lying 
in South Louisiana, south of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and extend- 
ing to the Gulf, and along the great lakes to the northeast of New 
Orleans, and along the edges of the waterways of Central and North 
Louisiana. It was my experience, a few months past, to inspect a 
cypress swamp in the parishes of St. John Baptiste and St. James, 
which, several years since, was denominated "a shaking, bottomless 
swamp." I discovered that, by the slow, yet sure, law of deposits and 
accretions, the Bonnet Carre Crevasse had left, from its flood of waters, 
a " mud and ma terial" deposit of moie than four feet deep. This swamp is 
down on the maps and in the handbooks as " worthless, valueless for* 
agriculture ;" and yet, I venture, when the timber standing has been 
removed, this swamp will be looked upon and sought after by the 
shrewd, far-seeing " cabbage grower," as the choicest bit of laud in all 
the fair bosom of L<*uisiana's alluvial basin. This is no exaggerated 
statement. A visit to the section of country in the swamps around Frenier, 



30 SOME LATE WORDS 

ou the Illinois Central Railroad, •will afford th« proof. The supply of 
cypress timber in- the State of Louisiana is fast being brought to its 
limit Even now, we find the lumberman and the logger are forced, 
from necessity, to t lie "cable" process to draw logs from the outer limits 
of the depleted swamps into the water lor floating, and in some sections 
it is necessary to construct tram-roads for several miles into the swamps, 
iu older to reach the cypress. For years, the Louisiana swamps have 
been called upon to meet the demands for cooperage to market her great 
sugar and molasses crops ; to supply crossties for the network of rail- 
ways covering Texas and her own borders, and reaching out to the 
mountain-hearted land of the Montezumas ; and to supply the tank- 
maker, the architect, the boat builder atid the shingle maker with mate- 
rial to satisfy their demands. And all of these demands have been met 
with tremendous strain and tension by the cypress brake. Is it a won- 
der that we, to-day, realize that our cypress brakes are fast disappear- 
ing? That their value has not been appreciated ? And that we must 
husband or economize, or we must, at an early period, have to draw on 
other States to supply our Wants in cypress — at prices ten times greater 
than we sold our own cypress for? 

There is another class of swampy lands which have, during the last 
few years, undergone most remarkable change in value. I refer to the 
low prairies of South and Southwest Louisiana. These broad acres, 
which for generations past, have been the home of the alligator, the 
wood fowl, and of solitude, are fast yielding to the influences of the 
"ditch and the drainage" and now, the farmer sows his rice and reaps 
his crop; and I predict, before another decade, the railroad will cross the 
lands where legend, tradition and prejudice have, for ages, proclaimed 
to the world, "A bottomless, shaking, trembling prairie." The world 
moves on — win should Louisiana stand still? 

" W. H. Howcott." 

It would be worse than useless to enlarge upon Mr. Howcott's letter, 
and to attempt a paiticularization of all the localities where cypress is to 
be found, or even to define all the localities of the "Wooded Swamps." 
In almost every instance, these are on every stream in the State ; and 
the streams are almost numberless. 

The delta of the Mississippi, on all streams, is, or rather, has been a 
great country for cypress. And, after Dr. Joseph Jones' definition of 
the delta, we will not re-describe it, but say, in general terms, from the 
Atchafalaya bottoms to the hills beyond the Teche, the Mermenteau, 
Plaquemine, Nez-Phjue, Vermilion, Que de Tortile - , Calcasieu (and sub- 
ordinate streams), are good cypress localities. The bayou Macon, Bamf 
river, bayou Lafourche, Ouachita river, bayou Dauchite and portions of 
Red river are strong in cypress. 

But, after all this particularization, let not the reader be misled. Let 
him remember that millions of acres have been bought; that cross-ties, 
bridge-timber, piles, fencing, shingles and numberless mills have ab- 
sorbed, and are absorbing this timber. Its uses are growing all the 
while, and its appreciation is very rapid in public regard. And then, 
much cypress is not accessible, although it may be superb in quantity 
and quality. It is worth $8 to $10 per 100, in the log, at the mill. 

The "Wooded Swamps" are often very rich in hard woods. Oaks, 
hickories (many species), ash, etc., are superb. 

The last division on Prof. Lockett's map, is the "Coast Marsh," and 
almost uninhabited. The "Coast Marsh" is, at present, almost out of 
consideration for the agriculturist or capitalist. Prof. Locke tt thus de- 
scribes it on the topographical map in question : " Subject to tidal over- 
flow; not passable. Intersected by bayous, lakes and trembling prai- 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 31 



rieu, with islands of live oaks, covered with tall, rank grass. Products : 
Fish, game, rice, oranges, bananas, tigs on islands. Area, 5,200 square 
miles. Salt water surface, about 2,000 square miles." 

This area is out of consideration for the agriculturist, because not re- 
claimed; out of consideration for the capitalist (meaning thereby the 
speculator), because a great deal has been purchased, at least, in its 
western area. Mr. J. B. Watkins, of Lake Charles, La. (headquarters), 
though living in Kansas, purchased, at a stroke, over one million acres 
of it. We understand his purchase to include about all the "Coast 
Marsh" in Vermilion parish, and in Cameron, to Lake Calcasieu, fur- 
ther west. West of that lake, a few gentlemen residing west of Lake 
Charles, own much, if not all the balance, of this "Coast Marsh," in the 
soxithwest corner of Louisiana, clear, or near to Sabine Pass. On the 
eastern part of this body of laud, a large tract is owned by a company 
having its domicile in New Orleans. 

Between New Orleans and Mobile ("alongthe coast"), clubs of sports- 
men of the former city, own more or less, and have club-houses there 
where they shoot and fish. This "Coast Marsh "is one of the finest 
winter cattle ranges on the continent. The soil is incredibly rich, made 
so by its many factors of fertility, such as marine shells, dead fish, salt 
from overflows of the Gulf of Mexico, the humus from the rank, decayed 
grass of unnumbered ages, and by the excreta of countless aquatic fowl 
that have been its resort for centuries. This last element of fertility puts 
the soil in the category of a quality like the guano of the Lobos Islands 
of Peru. Col. M. B. Hillyard visited this spot and wrote it up in the 
columns of the Times-Democrat, and we shall give some of his descrip- 
tions hereafter. By burning this tall grass after it has been frost struck, 
room is given for the young grass to grow, which it does all winter. 

Besides the tall, rank grass, there is other food which the cattle are 
fond of — flag, water-parsely, etc. Some day this front of the sea marsh 
will be valuable as grounds for oyster-planting, fish-taking, terrapin- 
nurseries, etc. In Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, oyster-beds are 
very valuable. From them is furnished work for a thousand or more 
vessels ("oyster boats," in the parlance of the oystermen), and thousands 
•f employes (of both sexes) find employment in " shucking" and packing 
this choice shell fish; and even towns are built away out into the shal- 
low sounds, in some localities, with oyster shells as foundations. The 
shores of our Gulf are just beginning to feel the impulse of oyster 
and slirimp-canning, and scores of these canneries will spring 
into existence in the near future. Then the localities, 
where the finest oysters can be raised or "grown," will be 
very valuable, and water-fronts will be in demand. Then, too, fish- 
paoking, " fish-guano " factories, fish-oil estabbshments, etc., will some 
day be great industries; and good seining grounds accessible must be 
had. It is not generally known that we have in the Gulf of Mexico the 
genuine " Diamond-back" of the waters of the Delaware and Chesa- 
peake bays. Retail, these terrapins sell, by the dozen ("counts"), for 
from ten to fifteen dollars, and larger ones as high as tliirty dollars, in 
winter, per dozen. Every habitue of those renowned restaurateur*, 
Welcker, of Washington, D. C, and Delmonico, of New York, knows 
what a plate of " Diamond-back " is, and also what a plate costs ! !* So 
far as we know, there are only two terrapin farms in the United States — 
that is for this species, — one on the eastern shore of Maryland, and the 
other on Mobile bay (in Alabama). The shallow bays, inlets, etc., afford 
most admirable chances for raising this crustacean along our Gulf front. 
It is a matter of course that, by twenty-five years from now, will be 
started two or three cities botweoo New Orleans and Galveston. In all 



32 SOME LATE WORDS 

human probability, one of them will be on Vermilion bay Deep water 
can be had there. It can be made a superb harbor. No reason why it 
should not be made a great winter city. There, will be prodigious can- 
neries of fish, crab, shrimp, oysters, etc., and cognate industries or those 
dependent. At points on the Gulf coast, between the southwest pass of 
the Mississippi river and Sabine Pass, there is a superb surf; and sum- 
mer cities will surely spring up, resorted to by parties who seek bathing, 
sea breeze, fishing, shooting, sailing, etc. At this date, a large hotel is 
being built at Grand Isle, as a summer hotel for those who seek the 
above-mentioned attractions. And a railroad is projected to that point, 
to accommodate travel there. It has been long noted for its superb 
surf. 

We ought not to fail to say a few words about the splendid shooting 
iu the " Coast Marsh " area. There, are more or less deer. But, wild 
duck, wild geese, and brant swarm there in myriads, in winter. The 
locality is one of the great winter habitats of the migratory fowls above 
named, that, forsaking the frozen regions of the West at that season, 
seek the locality in question. No adequate idea can be conveyed of the 
teeming millions of these aquatic fowl that darken the air in flight, and 
fairly cover the waters of this coast marsh. But, wild duck are found, 
both summer and winter there aud elsewhere in the State. Their flesh 
is delicious : and many " pot-hunters " earn a livelihood in killing them. 
And in speaking of game, it ought to be said that no State in the Union 
at all compares with Louisiana in abundance and variety. Deer, wild 
turkey, woodcock, jack-snipe, wild duck and geese are plentiful. In 
localities, wolves and black bear are numerous. Quail, rabbits and 
squirrels are abundant almost everywhere, a little away from thick set- 
tlement. Prairie chickens are in goodly numbers on the southwestern 
prairies. Papabotes (plovers, two species), swarm in early spring and 
August there, and they are far superior in quality to the jack-snipe. 
Wild cats are easily found. Opossums and coons are almost a staple 
food for the colored people, in wooded areas, in winter. Robins are in 
great numbers in spring, and doves and wild pigeons are in strong force. 
Many people trap ; and otters and minks are to be found on almost all 
streams where population has not cleared them out. 

Within the next fifty years, this " Coast Marsh " will probably be 
dyked and in cultivation. Its soil is superior, we think (if possible), to 
the "Alluvial Lands" of the Mississippi bottom, as there enter into its 
composition more constituents of fertility. The potash, phosphates, 
vegetable humus, lime (from shells), and ammonia (fixed), are astound- 
ing. As to the feasibility of reclaiming this area, there can be no doubt. 
Leaving entirely out of account the stupendous difficulties and triumphs 
of dyking Holland, the coast marshes (once), of our own country furnish 
abundant illustrations. The shores of the Delaware river, in many 
places, are illustrations. And Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and 
Eastern Virginia, show plentiful territory wrested from sea or bay, as 
the case may be ; and where the " wild waves " played once, children 
now sport, and all crops possible to climate grow. 

We now give an extract from a letter from the pen of Col. M. B. Hill- 
yard, who visited the coast marsh under the auspices of Mr. J. B. 
Watkins, the chief of the English syndicate which bought such a large 
area of this sort of land from the State of Louisiana. The former gen- 
tleman gave quite an exploration of the area. The extract below is 
taken from The Times- Democrat of New Orleans. It is dated Lake 
Charles, Louisiana, April 2, 1886 : 

" But what a country for the sportsman ! Papabotes, jack-snipe, 
wild duck without number. Had I brought gun and ammunition along, 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 33 



as poor a sliot as I am, I could have almost loaded my boat with mal- 
lard and teal ; for one could pull softly along the canal, step up the bank 
behind the levee, and get shots at swarms of these ducks from ten to 
fifty yards distant, in the numerous lakes. Even the geese had not yet 
all gone, and the men told me these wintered there in myriads. But 
Southern and Western Louisiana is a sportsman's paradise, and ought 
to have even a greater reputation than it has. 

The fertility of much ot the soil in the marsh is almost beyond belief. 
Where they are dredging it was as black as tar, and greasy and slip- 
pery to the touch. How much deeper it was, no one could tell. In 
partsfcf the embankment, nothing could be seen but this rich alluvion. 
In parts of the marsh, there is a capping of decayed vegetable matter, of 
a depth of one to three feet, and then a greasy, greenish, yellow clay, 
with more or less " buckshot " in it. Very frequently there is consider- 
able shell mixed with the substratum. The soil is very cretaceous, as 
can be seen by its cleavage — vary similar to that of the rotten limestone 
of East Mississippi, more particularly. But aside from analysis — of 
which I know nothing — all conditions show that this soil must be rich, 
for there are deposited dead Crustacea; shoals of fish have decayed 
there ; the rank vegetation of ages has rotted there; wild fowl, feeding 
on fish, have deposited their excrement there through all the centuries, 
and this last element of fertility is the predominant one of Peruvian 
guano. 

It is in this sea marsh belt (as contradistinguished from the enclosed, 
or prairie belt), that the syndicate propose to winter their cattle. In 
summer, the flies and mosquitoes are deemed too troublesome. The 
canals will give them a dryer foot, and as the waters recede, grasses 
will be seeded. Bermuda, to our surprise, has got more or less foot- 
hold, and Timothy, meadow-fescue and Herds Grass will undoubtedly 
luxuriate in many spots now." 

We now proceed to give some data with reference to one and another 
topic. 

The following are from proceedings of a 

CONVENTION OF NORTHERN-RAISED MEN. 

held in New Orleans last summer, for the purpose of giving their views 
of their adopted home, Louisiana : 

Prof. Knapp, as chairman of the convention, rose and introduced 
Chief Justice Edward Bermudez, in the following words : 
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Convention : 

I have the pleasure to introduce to you, for an address of welcome, 
Chief Justice Edward Bermudez, to represent the judiciary of Louisiana. 

ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY CHIEF JUSTICE EDWARD BERMUDEZ. 
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Convention: 

The chairman has announced me as a representative of the Judiciary 
on this occasion This is a slight mistake. I appear in no official 
capacity whatever. I come as a private individual to make a few re- 
marks on this occasion, and I do it as the equal of every one here, the 
superior of none (applause). I come simply as a citizen of Louisiana, 
who has at stake the good of his State, and will not detain you long. 
The address I have prepared for you, I have made read as a judgment. 

The promoters of this convention have met for the purpose of taking 
such steps as may effectually stimulate immigration, specially from the 
West and North. They are men of broad minds, of stout hearts, practi- 
cal business capacity, who, made aware of the advantages to be derived 
in agricultural pursuits in the State, came to judge for themselves of her 



34 SOME LATE WORDS 



climate and salubrity and the fertility of her soil. After an experimen- 
tation of a number of years, they have announced themselves amply 
satisfied and rewarded, and have settled permanently within her borders. 

THIS IS NO POLITICAL ASSEMBLAGE. 

Men generally congregate to avert a common danger or to promote a 
common good. Seldom do they meet to accomplish a purpose, which, 
when realized, inures exclusively to the benefit of others. Still such 
seems to be the main object of those who have come together on this 
occasion. 

They have assembled to bear testimony to establish facts which will 
induce others to follow in their footsteps, that they may reap advantages 
similar to those which they have themselves realized. # 

They will announce in appropriate form the general resources and 
wealth of the State, and give the moral assurance to all who may trust 
them, that should they immigrate and settle here, under proper circum- 
stances, and with the proper spirit and energy, their fondest aspirations 
will not be blasted, but on the contrary, will be fully realized. 

Joining them, the citizens of the State offer to immigrants a large 
quantity of excellent and cheap lands, much superior to those in other 
States at like rates, scattered throughout the State, in its most fertile 
regions, well timbered, fairly roaded, and susceptible, by proper cultiva- 
tion, of producing almost 

EVERYTHING NECESSARY AND USEFUL 

for their welfare and prosperity, and this with little or no pains, with 
hardly any capital except the indispensable outlay to start with, and to 
have matters and things to move in the right direction. 

They offer to them a temperate climate, free from blizzards in winter, 
although trying at times, but usually bearable in summer ; a country as 
healthy, perhaps healthier, than any other similarly situated. Of course, 
people ^Yill die here from diseases, as they do anywhere, but many live to 
quite advanced age. The mass is not afflicted with those extraordinary 
maladies Which occasionally prey like scourges on doomed localities. 

Yellow fever once prevailing here, locally, and not as a general thing, 
has not made its appearance for many years, owing in part to wise 
sanitary precautions, and to the scattering of the populations of cities. 
From all indications, this dreaded curse will never more show its.hideous 
form, or if it does, it should not alarm settlers or planters in the rural 
portions of the State beyond its reach. 

WE OFFER TO IMMIGRANTS 

a law-abiding people, honest, charitable and chivalrous, ever ready to 
lend a helping hand to all needing and deserving assistance. 

We offer them the assurance that our people, as a body, is a moral 
people, reverencing religious principles, encouraging the development 
of morality and education, convinced (however much they may diverge 
on certain subjects on those matters), that honesty is the best policy, 
and that iu their Intercourse men must be controlled by the wise 
maxim : " Do unto others that which you wish others to do unto yon." 

Others better informed on those topics, and who will follow, will 
adduce satisfactory proof that we have well regulated free schools and 
numerous churches, both of easy access ; that others are daily put up and 
maintained whenever the need of growing population requires, all over 
the State, and at which all can learn much more than the rudiments of 
knowledge and the fundamental principles on which morality and reli- 
gion must rest. 

They will also show that justice is administered by courts in which 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 35 

the rights of life, liberty, property and the pursuits of happiness are 
I and enforced under a system of legislation which is at least 
equal, if not superior to any other. 

In exchange, all that is expected is that those to whom those friendly 
and advantageous otters are extended, and who may accept them, shall 
be upright, energetic, enterprising and public spirited men. 

Of Louisiana, as of Naples, it may be well said that it is a fragm 
heaven fallen on to earth. Indeed, the soil of Louisiana is such that, 
tickled wirli a hoe, it smiles into harvest. [Applause.] 

Lei such then come to us ; let them see and judge for themselves of 
the sincerity of our representations ; let them settle among us, exert 
themselves as they ought to, and they may rest assured that their un- 
king, in no way hazardous, will be fully crowned wit . and 
i rnally ; and, with I dng of 1 
enhance mightily the common good ; the prosperity and the greatness 
of a common beloved Slate. To all we tender a hearty wel . . 
applause.] 

President Knapp then introduced 

COL. JOSEPH A. BREAUX 

State Superintendent of Public Education, who said : 

* * * * » * * 

The public school system is not as useful as it should be. In certain 
local!' not useful at all. We are pleased to greet you. You will 

aid tli nd influential number in our Staje who consider the com- 

mon school system as a great factor in American ci ... The in- 

bhis large and influential number prevailed dur don 

of the General Assembly held this .year- The school la^\ .mod- 

elled. The revemu be regret- 

tingly admitted. The restrictions in the orj min- 

e as is needed. Why these restrictions were in tl Con- 

stitution adopted in 1879, it is uselesss to • stric- 

tious upon education, and for the time being they must bo obeyed. In 
the law lately adopted, provision is made to i euue; for 

schools in the parish • minimum of, taxation levied in the parishes 

heretofore was generally one mill. 

Under the present law, it should be one and a half mills, and may be 
as many mills in addition, as the Police Juries see proper to appropri- 
ate. 

This is a local tax. In addition to the State apportionment for the 
support of schools, there is a poll tax and the free school interest tax. 
In parishes in which there is a healthy public opinion regarding schools, 
se in revenues from this local tax will be obtained. 
re there is no great love for the school law, and where mandatory 
provisions in this connection are as naught, and where the feeling is one 
of indifference to popular education, and there exists no sympathy for 
who are anxiously seeking to escape being classed among the 
"ii of darkness and illiteracy, this provision of the law will not 
iplish much. 

lion should be favored. It is of the 'itmost importance. 
An intelligent immigrant in search of a» home (by the way, most im- 
migrants are intelligent: generalh the dullard does not immigrate), will 
not fail to enquire about the schools. 

lie well knows that in most communities where the schools are entire- 
elected ; where the schools do not inspire the least interest, there 
are not many citizens prominent, because of their excellent qualities and 
good traits. 



36 SOME LATE WORDS 



The schools epitomize the State. They reflect the excellence of the 
community. 

******** ** 

The present generation in Louisiana is not discharging its debt, in so 
far as relates to the common schools. This debt should no longer be 
overlooked or neglected. 

********** 

The Legislature has provided for holding Institutes, State and local. 
The former is in charge of the State Normal School at Natchitoches. The 
latter is left to the management of parish superintendents. There are 
two Normal Schools in the State. The one just mentioned, and another 
in New Orleans. The latter is mostly, if not entirely, local ; with time f 
it will doubtless, extend its usefulness. 

There is a University in New Orleans. The Tulane, to which I refer, 
because it has received considerable aid from the State. My object being 
at this time to limit my remarks to institutions under its control, I will 
not refer to all its departments, but I will mention that it has a literary, 
also a technical and mechanical department. There are a number of 
students in this department. The management is excellent. It is re- 
ceiving the appreciation it deserves. There is also a university for col- 
ored students : The Southern University. It is endowed by the State, 
and receives consideration and attention on the part of those in author- 
ity. There is an institution of learning in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana 
State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. Hope is 
entertained that this university will increase its usefulness. The tui- 
tion is free. The costs of support of the students have been lately very 
much reduced. It is proposed, I understand, to make this institution 
especially useful in training young men in the science of agriculture, at 
the same time, they are taught the usual curriculum generally adopted in 
the institutions of learning. 

There are experimental agricultural stations, regularly organized. 
The students have the benefit of the educational advantages offered by 
these stations. They are estimated, I may say, with the institution. 
These stations are under the direction of an agricultural bureau. 

The officers are : 

The Commissioner of Agriculture. 

The President of the University. 

The Professor of Chemistry and of Agriculture of this University. 

These stations are well endowed and are in satisfactory condition. 
This bureau, these stations and organizations have excited interest in 
agricultural science. 

Planters and farmers have improved. They have adopted methods 
more economical than heretofore. The fertility of the soil has been 
Stimulated, and yields considerably more than heretofore. 

Drains are being improved; better machinery and field implements 
are now in use. I am well aware that I have not made extremely favor- 
able statements in regard to the common schools. They are not what 
they should be ; but do not conclude that I am at all despondent, even 
in regard to the common schools. 

The advantages in Louisiana are many. They will be developed. 

The common schools will receive deserved attention and support. 

• * # # • *-»# # * 

As to common schools, although the revenues are not as much as they 
should be, the citizens, despite Constitutional restrictions, will devise 
ways and means to improve them and make them worthy of the State 
and its people. In welcoming you to our State, we feel particularly 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 37 



pleased, for we know that you will not be slow in talcing part in this 
good work. (Great applause). 

ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY REV. DR. B. M. PALMER, 

whose name was next upon the programme of speakers, was heartily 
greeted on rising. He delivered an able, thoughtful address on "Re- 
ligion and Churches of Louisiana," as follows: 
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Convention : 

In reading the New Testament, I find its epistles opening and closing 
with salutations to the parties addressed; and I see no reason why, in 
our day, the angels of the church might not address similar greetings to 
all who approach them. It is for this simple purpose, that I appear this 
morning. 

The highest legal representative of this commonwealth has assured 
you of the protection which the law extends to all, equally and without 
distinction. The superintendent of public education has spoken of the 
condition of our schools ; and how those present, and all who came to 
abide with us, are entitled equally with ourselves. to take advantage of 
these privileges. Although speaking simply as an individual, having no 
official authority from that branch of the church to which I belong, and 
still less from other branches of the church to which I am closely related, 
it is not unbecoming in me to point to the open doors of all our sanctu- 
aries, and to assure all those who come with honest intent within our 
borders, that they are welcome to all the privileges of the sanctuary. 
You may perhaps ask me for a guarantee of this broad statement. Let 
me remind you that Christianity is nothing, if it be not love ; and if the 
church breathe the spirit of the Gospel, she must open her arms to all 
who come with honest and good intentions. 

Least of all can the church afford to be indifferent to the claims of 
those who come in a Christian spirit. Every man who is virtuous, 
ev«?ry man who is intelligent, who has the love of God in his heart and 
desires with us to extend the Redeemer's kingdom over the world, lias 
precisely the same place in our homes and in our churches as those who 
are to the manor born ; and to such is due welcome, not only to the 
privileges of the sanctuary, but to the fellowship and esteem which the 
first implies. But there is an additional guarantee. We of the South have 
been made to lay especial emphasis upon the distinction between the 
Church and the State. We have been compelled to regard the church 
as purely spiritual — her functions as purely spiritual. She has no com- 
mission from her Divine Head to control governments or to alter the 
complexion of legislation. Whatever our individual relation to the 
State as citizens, whatever we might feel free to do as members of our 
churches, officially we regard ourselves as confined to the simple func- 
tion of preaching the Gospel, and saving the souls of our fellow-men. I 
believe that, in all the branches of the Christian church in Louisiana, 
their outlook is simply upon the world, and their sole care the bringing 
of men into the kingdom of the Redeemer. They have nothing to do 
with the distinction of party, race or sect. 

Their simple desire is to fulfill that revelation which God has given to 
them, and to open the portals of the kingdom into which the blessed are 
permitted to enter. From their convictions, they are compelled to be 
liberal and generous hearted. It is impossible for the church, under- 
standing aright its mission and its proper character, to be sectional or 
partisan. In proof of this, I have simply to point my finger to the open 
doors of the church's sanctuaries, and to bid each of you welcome to all 
the privileges of the house of God. Even during the dark and dismal 
days of reconstruction, when it was necessary that some degree of cau- 



38 SOME LATE WORDS 

tion should be exercised as to parties coming to us from abroad, no man 
who came to us from the North or the West, giving evidence of Ids in- 
tention to assimilate with us, to share with us our public and private 
fortunes, and to advance, the interests of the land wherein lie was about 
to dwell — no such man was, in any quarter, ever refused the heartiest 
recognition, and I am satisfied that there are men in this city of N'w 
Orleans who will deliver their testimony, that the way to office in the 
church of Louisiana is as fairly open to such men through an honest 
election of the people, as to those who are to the manor born. 

I feel free, therefore, as a Christian man, knowing somewhat of tlte 
Christian .spirit of the people amongst whom I have dwelt for a third of 
a century, to extend to all who come with honest intent, a hearty wel- 
come^ until the blessed tidings of a common salvation has been spread 
over the face of the earth. I regard this as a sacred right due to you 
through the will of the Father of us all, a right granted to all men by 
the King who dwells in Heaven above. 

Then followed 

A BEAUTIFUL POEM OF WELCOME, 

by the distinguished poetess, Mary Ashley Towusend. 

ADDRESS OF WELCOME BT HON. JOSEPH A. SIIAKSPEAIM:, MAYOR OF 

NEW ORLEANS. 

Hon. Joseph A. Shakspeare, Mayor of tie City of New Orleans, 
amidst much applau.-.e, spoke as follows : 

Gentlemen of the Convention : 

I welcome you in the name of the City ot New Orleans, knowing that 
you are assembled here for one of the most momentous occasions ever 
held iu Louisiana. If there is one State in the South that needs such a 
convention of gentlemen as 1 see before me, it is Louisiana. We are 
suffering for immigration. Not that class which, has at times found its 
way here, but those of the superior kind to which you belong. [Hearty 
applause.] 

Louisia'na lands are as fruitful as any in our country. Her climate is 
excellent, and her health (thanks to the Board of Health), has lost its 
old reputation, and yellow fever has, it seems, been shut out. 

Why, the idea of a convention at this time of the year is remarkable, 
and there are more people in New Orleans now than for years. My own 
family has been here all summer for the first time since 1878. I hope 
that this will be the beginning, and not the end of an immigration move- 
ment. There have, been many conventions of this kind held in our city. 
I was connected with one myself some years back-, and we spent money 
in it, too, but it was too soon for such a movement, and nothing came of 
it. Now, gentlemen, is the proper time to bring people such as you are 
to this State. 

I again welcome you to our city. [Great applause.] 

The next address was made by 

DR. C. P. WILKINSON, 

president of the State Board of Health. He read as follows, regarding 
data and statistics of the health of Louisiana : 
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention: 

The ta..k allotted to me in the programme is one upon which I have 
entered with a great deal of pleasure, because it has enabled me to 
bring before you, and through you, before the general public, certain 
indisputable truths to establish the fact that the fertile State of Louisi- 
ana is among the most healthy of the States of the Union. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 39 

_ . 

Abroad, it is the common belief that a white man cannot dwell an 
entire summer in Louisiana, without passing through spells of perilous 
sickness; this erroneous belief especially applying to recent arrivals 
from other sections, those to the manor born being sometimes allowed 
an exemption from the fatal influences of the atmosphere alleged to float 
continually over our fields; to be inured to the arid, scorching heat 
which beats, untempered by cooling breezes; to be hardened to influ- 
ences which would quickly kill any other Caucasian, through a process 
which, for want of a better or less bad appellation, is termed "acclima- 
tization." 

The influences which this gathering of stalwart men, strong of arm 
and clear of eye, and altogether unacclimated, will have upon an eluci- 
dation of the entire truth, can hardly be estimated. No word from 
friends can magnify or exaggerate the condition of facts when you are 
here to act, to speak, to demonstrate for yourselves ; and the. voice of 
traducer must, in the presence of this assembly, be still. 

Probably the principal obstacle which has hitherto existed against the 
influx of settlers from Northern and Western States into this, has been 
the annual outcry raised against us of yellow fever. 

Forty years ago danger from this cause seemed to operate only in the 
city of New Orleans. Refugees tied no further than the villages beyond 
Lake Pontchartrain, to the pine woods of Eastern Louisiana and South- 
ern Mississippi, to the plantations on the Lafourche and along the coast, 
and maintained unrestricted intercourse with the strickeu»city without 
apparently disastrous results to the exiled. 

In the year 1878, the disease spread over the entire South, following in 
the track of travelers from infected regious, and invading retreats ofhigh 
alii tiules hitherto deemed more than surely safe from a visitation. The 
recollection of that epidemic lives now principally in the memories 
of the individuals who survived some loss, and of the thoughtful sani- 
tarian. 

The dread of yellow fever previous to the year 1878, in the country, 
a matter afar off, became then a known and tangible fear; and after- 
ward, irresponsible and untraceable rumors of the appearance of this 
disease, without foundation of fact, annually created alarm, and did 
much to deter enterprising men from entering and locating their homes 
within this State's borders. 

This dread lias now in a great measure subsided, from two causes ; 
the first, that no grounds for suspicion have occurred; that no symptom 
of a case of yellow fever has developed in the State within the past few 
years; and the second, that the Board of Health stands solemnly 
pledged to give the very first, case the fullest and widest publicity. 

The slightest study of the history of yellow fever, and of quarantine 
operations within this State, will convince you that mortality from the 
one, has decreased jp(n*ipassu, with better and more complete applica- 
tion of the other. During the first decade of the past forty years, nine 
years of which this city was without any quarantine, and the one year 
it did exist barely in name, more than half of the total deaths from yel- 
low fever of the whole forty years occurred within that short ten; the 
other lesser portion being distributed, with lessening number every 
year, over the remaining thirty. 

From a close study of the operations of the various quarantine sys- 
tems, successive Boards of Health have evolved plans, until to-day, one 
exists which is certifiied by disinterested parties as superior to anything 
at present in the world. 

Coincident with the evolution and application of the present quaran- 
tine service, ceased the annual appearance of yellow fever on shipboard 



40 SOME LATE WORDS 



at the wharves of this city, or among those persons but recently in com- 
munication therewith. We are now in the middle of the third year of total 
exemption from yellow fever ; in my opinion, an exemption most closely 
connected with the application of our quarantine service. I am too fa- 
miliar with the fallibility of human nature ; too well aware of our ignor- 
ance of the laws which control epidemic diseases and the suscepti- 
bility of a community to overcome or be prostrated by epidemic morbid 
influences, to state authoritatively that we have found the means of se- 
curing ourselves against an invasion of the dreaded enemy ; but I do 
confidently assert that, if undisturbed in its quarantine operations, if 
left to work out the problem with the aid of the best men and material 
at its command, if unthwarted by the jealousies of individuals, or by the 
undetected evasions of rules by travelers and mariners, the safe solution 
of the question, by a Board of Health, is not far distant. 

But with the problem solved, and mortality from yellow fever unmen- 
tioned in our records, the rate in the city of New Orleans is not what it 
should be, not yet placed in the high rank to which it is entitled by its 
natural advantages. 

The mortuary statistics are published weekly, and the records being 
open to public inspection and comparison, I will not tire, you by reciting 
a mass of statistics, other than to mention the three principal causes of 
death and their percentage to the total roll, for the two years, in this 
city; two periods of time which may, with justness, be cited as a fair 
sample, since neither presents any marked variation from the usual. 

In 1886, the deaths in this city from fevers of all kinds, were .379, or 
G. 20 per cent, of death from all causes; from consumption 889, or 12.55 
per cent.; from cholera infantum 188, or 2.88 per cent. 

In 1887" — All fevers 332, or 5.36 per cent.; consumption 773, or 11 per 
cent., and cholera infantum 171, or 2.81 per cent., both white and colored 
included. In this calculation is also included the deaths in the Charity 
Hospital, an institution drawing patients from every section of the 
country; these deaths, amounting iu 1886, to 960, and in 1887 to 94!. 
Thus, you see an improvement in 1887 over 1886, an improvement 
which will become more marked as our citizens advance in their knowl- 
edge of hygiene and sanitation. 

The efforts which are being made to have these two branches taught 
in our public schools, efforts which I trust and believe will be successful; 
the attention of our people being directed towards drainage and muni- 
cipal sanitation ; the constant discussion of the subject, and the dissemi- 
nation of information in the matter now undertaken by our sanitarians, 
are almost potent factors towards the education of the people aud will 
most positively be productive of excellent results. 

The city of New Orleans has improved in its death rate remarkably in 
the last half century, and though not yet as low as it should be, the in- 
terest so plainly manifested in the subject by her people, make the con- 
viction certain that within a few years her rank, from a position lower 
than the average of the healthy cities of the Union, will be placed on a 
plane with the healthiest in the world. General aud persistent atten- 
tion through the channels of drainage and municipal sanitation will very 
soon reduce that mortality, which is now the fault of our citizens and not 
of our situation. 

I will present to you the unbiased and disinterested testimony of Mr. 
Wm. P. Stewart, the actuary and vital statitiscian of the Mutual Life 
Insurance Company, of New York, whose business is to inquire into the 
vital statistics of sections of the country where that company proposes 
to establish offices. He says of Louisiana : 

"You can ask for no better evidence of the fact that your general 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 41 



healthfulness is now recognized as assured, than to consult your best 
informed business men on the significance of the action of the Conserva- 
tive Mutual Life Insurance Company coming into your midst. No one in- 
dication of the year has so much encouraged them as this, because they 
know this company speaks for the largest financial corporation of the 
world, the soundest principle of mutuality, and the most conservative 
business interest. * * * I have already expressed my conviction 
that you are destined to grow into recognition as the great winter resort, 
and I now venture to prophesy that, with the newly awakened spirit of 
your people, you will see before the next decade, a commerce doubled, a 
population increased 50 per cent., and a property value as will make 
fortunes for those who venture as business men. I have been charmed 
with the river scenery, the like of which is nowhere else to be found. 
The many village-like plantations, with their evidence of wealth, refine- 
ments and comfort; the broad sweep of river; the luxurious spread of 
foliage; the inviting stretch of land; the characteristic homes of the 
wealthy are nowhere else to be seen, and with the trim, tree-shaded, 
glistening white cottages, go to make up a panorama such as would de- 
light the eye of the most traveled tourist, and put to shame the merest 
suggestion of 'stored-up disease.'" 

The evidence of like disinterested character which I will present to 
you is the United States census of 1880, the completed volumes of which 
are only just published. There is no other authority from which we 
may draw practical conclusions; the basis is only for 1880, and, as no 
visitations of epidemic scourges took place in any section of our country 
that year, the standard may be accepted as conclusive. 

The errors incidental to one place are practically common to all, and 
our inferences drawn from a study of the table presented should be 
accepted as very nearly correct. 

After careful and repeated examinations of the tables presented, I am 
surprised to find that the different localities of the Union do not differ 
largely in the aggregate to their mortality ; the extreme, from lowest to 
highest, being only 8 in 1000 of population. 

The average mortality, for the whole United States, is 14.70 per 1000 
for the whites, and 17.29 for the blacks. 

For the whites, Oregon is first, with a mortality of 11.04 per 1000, with 
Minnesota an excellent second at 11.51, and Arkansas brings up the foot 
of the list with a mortality of 19.11, very closely pushed by educated and 
scientific Massachusetts, with a mortality of 18.56. 

For the blacks, the negro enjoys the greatest exemption in Florida, 
having a rate of mortality in that State of 11.36 per 1000. He has a very 
hard time in Rhode Island, where his mortality is 27.10, and he is very 
much worse, and the very worst off, under the very eye of his particular 
guardian, the general government; for his mortality, in the District of 
Columbia, is 35.62 per 1000. 

Now, as the position which Louisiana occupies in the white list, I am 
very sure that Vermont, Tennessee, Indiana and Texas have each of 
them enviable reputations for healfulness, and a favorable comparison of 
Louisiana with any of the four, would undoubtedly, excite derision. 

What are the facts? Vermont has a white mortality of 15.12 per 1000; 
Tennessee, 16.21; Louisiana, 15.45; Indiana, 15.88, and Texas, 15.86 j 
or, in this group of known healthy States, Louisiana stands superior to 
two, and presents only a very fractional inferiority to the others. * 

The relative positions of the States, including the whole populations, 
are tabulated and are annexed to this report, which is submitted to you 
for your disposal, but the reading will occupy too much of your time. 

Vital statisticians place very much reliance upon the proportion of 



42 SOME LATE WORDS 

deaths of children under five years old as indicative of the good or ill 
health of locality. This is undoubtedly a correct index of a fact, but its 
significance is, in my opinion, incorrectly applied. The laws which 
apply to the health and growth of an infant are very similar to the laws 
•which govern the life and growth of other things. Suitable food and 
suitable protection from effects of varying temperatures, are equally 
necessary in the nursery of human habitations and in the nursery of a 
florist. The rate of mortality of childi'en under five years marks with 
unerring finger, the ignorance, superstition, uncleanliness and indif- 
ference of grown persons, and not at all the conditions of climate. An 
index, indeed, of moral fault on part of a people, but ,of little intent in 
reference to the salubrity of a locality. 

Outside of large cities, in the rural regions of the State, the deaths 
from that universal disease, consumption, and the deaths of persons 
having passed beyond ninety-five years ot life is, in my opinion, the 
truest and best exponent of the climatic conditions and life possibili'.ies 
of any given place. 

Typhoid fever is now generally accepted to be dependent upon the 
purity of the drinking water supply, and is a matter of local or indivi- 
dual prevention. 

Malarial fever tells the sanitarian of undrained soils, impure water for 
drinking purposes, and individual neglect. Without reference to other 
agencies which bring about those paroxysms or fever which are desig- 
nated by this name, I advance the commonly accepted doctrine, that the 
most potential factor in the origin of this disease is humid soil, and 
therefore, the percentage of mortality from this disease is hardly at all 
due to the climatatic causes, but to imperfect or impossible terrestrial 
dryness. 

It is unnecessary to appeal to your medical men for corroboration of 
this statement. You know its truth yourselves, every one of you, I 
venture to say, from personal experience. Examples confirming the 
truth of my assertion are of daily occurrence. Returning to official 
figures, and now excluding the large cities, we arrive at tables which 
meet our purpose — the relative salubrity of the rural portion of each 
State. 

The highest on record of percentage of deaths from malarial fevers 
stands Florida, with 9.53 per cent of its total mortality from this dis- 
ease; the lowest, Rhode Island, with only .08 per cent. In between 
these two extremes come the other States; those adjacent to our great 
streams. showing a higher rate than the others. Arkansas has 7.65 per 
cent, Alabama 7.35, 'Mississippi 7.06, Louisiana 6.06, and Texas 8.04. 
Our own State showing more favorably than any of her neighbors, save 
one, in a mortality springing from a disease largely preventable by or- 
dinary attention, by the mass of the people, to the plainest and simplest 
laws of hygiene. 

The least infant mortality is exhibited in New Hampshire, which has 
20.88 per cent of infant to the total mortality; Maine, 24.57; Vermont, 
24.10; California, 25.31; New York, 25.39; Connecticut, 26.75; Massa- 
chusetts, 29:21 ; Ohio, 34.36 ; Rhode Island, 33.69 ; Oregon, 34.99 ; New 
York, 35.52; Wisconsin, 35.61 ; Pennsylvania, 36.15, and then Louisi- 
ana with 38.05, the list ending with Kansas and Nebraska, the highest 
rates in the Union — Kansas with 47.56, and Nebraska with 49.12 per cent. 
In this list Louisiana is not preceded by any Southern State. And 
should the calculation be based on the population only, or on an equal 
per cent of colored to white, which exists in each of the Northern 
States ahead of her, her rank would not be fifteenth, but third or fourth. 
The infant mortality among negroes is enormously large, as, from their 



ABOUT LOUISIANA, 43 



habits, it must be. Subsitute a comparison between the whites in the 
rural sections of the Union, North and South ; and many of our South- 
ern States would show that our people cared well for their young. 

The mortality from consumption, that dreaded, universal, and almost 
hopelessly fatal disease, can, in the country, where the close confinement 
in sedentary occupations, in ill-ventilated, crowded apartments, does 
not exist, may be taken as a fair criterion of the actual influence of 
climatic condition on the inhabitants. Arkansas enjoys greatest exemp- 
tion from this disease, with percentage to its total mortality of 6.42 j 
Texas second, with 6.05 per cent; Nebraska third, with 6.93; Kansas 
fourth, with 7.54; Louisiana fifth, with 7.41; Florida sixth, with 8.14; 
Oregon twentieth, with 12.12 per cent; California thirty-third, with 
15.80, and Maine the very last, with 19.16 per cent. 

These figures represent the death rate, and do away with the sug- 
gestion that the mortality from the disease is largely influenced by in- 
valids seeking the curative powers of certain climates. That influence 
is, in reality, small, because a larger number of those unbenefitted return 
to their homes to die ; and rarely do friends carry away from home pa- 
tients in the last stages of this disease. 

The percentage of deaths of people over ninety-five years to the total 
mortality, or, in other words, the proportion of old people in a State, 
demonstrating beyond cavil the possibilities and probabilities of life in 
those localities, is exhibited by the census, as follows : 

Vermont stands first, with a percentage of .70 of old people to total 
mortality; and Louisiana second, with .62; Florida. sixth, with .52; 
Ehode Island tenth, with .45; Tennessee twentieth, with 27, and Ne- 
braska last, with only .03 per cent. 

From the foregoing facts, we may conclude with certainty: 

1. That Louisiana enjoys, relatively to her neighbors, a favorable 
position in regard to mortality from malarial* fevers ; being superior to 
Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, and only a small fraction 
inferior to Texas. 

2. That her percentage of deaths of children places her above any 
of the Southern States; and, if like population be compared with like, 
her position will be third or fourth among all the United States. 

3. That her position in reference to the lowest rate of deaths from 
consumption, a disease very dependent upon climatic conditions, is 
fifth. 

4. That her percentage of deaths of old people places her second 
among all the States for possibilities of long life. 

Not all the wealth in gold wrung and delved from our fields, or dug 
from our mines, or wrought by clang of hammer, or hum of spool and 
spindle, but more than these, 

"Public health is public wealth." 

The next address on the programme was by 

CAPT. R. E. KERKAM, 

U. S. Signal Corps Director, Louisiana Weather Service, who read M 
follows regarding data and statistics of the climate of Louisiana : 
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

It affords me pleasure, as a representative of the National Signal Ser- 
vice, to be able to bring the work of the service before this convention 
in a practical manner, and to prove by official records that the climate 
of Louisiana fe more agreeable the year round, than any other section of 
the United States. To do this, a series of comparisons will be necessary, 
and to avoid a lengthy dissertation on the subject, by States, we will 



44 SOME LATE WORDS 

consider only the sections embraced by the extreme Northwest, the 
upper Mississippi and Missouri valleys, and the Pacific coast regions. 

These sections have been taken for comparison, not because they 
make Louisiana's claims stronger for tlie immigrant, but because they 
include a greater acreage of farming lands, and are considered the best 
in the Union. Should a doubt exist in any mind that a choice was made, 
it can readily be dispelled by a glance at the weather map displayed 
here. 

Considering the extreme degree of heat, the normal mean maximum 
temperature, for the hottest month, July, we find from signal service 
records that, the section .of country from southern Illinois and south- 
eastern Missouri to central Minnesota, has an average of 84°, with an 
average of the lowest temperature for the same month of 65° ; making 
the average daily range • of temperature 18°. The same figures for the 
same month, for (he section of country from southwestern Missouri to 
central Dakota are, average highest. 85°, average lowest 63°, making the 
average daily range, 22°. For the section of country embracing northern 
Minnesota and northern Dakota, we find an average highest tempera- 
ture of 78°, an average lowest of 55°, making an average daily range of 
23°. For Louisiana for the same month, the average highest tempera- 
ture of 99°, average lowest of 74°, making an average daily range of 17°. 

Considering the coldest month : It is found that the first named sec- 
tion (the upper Mississippi valley), had an average highest temperature 
for January of €1°, and an average lowest, of 13°, making an average 
daily range of 18°. For the second section (the Missouri valley) for the ' 
month of January, has an average highest temperature of 25°, an aver- 
age lowest of 3°, with an average daily range of temperature of 22°. 
The third named section (the extreme Northwest), has an average high- 
est temperature for January of 9°, an average lowest of 13° below zero, 
making the average daily range of temperature 22°. Louisiana has. for 
the same month, an average highest temperature of 59°, an average 
lowest of 44 , making the average daily range for the month of 15°. 

To consider the highest and lowest temperatures recorded on any day, 
at any of the stations in the various districts: 

It is found that the maximum temperature of the Mississippi valley, 
for summer, is 103°, recorded at Des Moines, Iowa, and at Cairo, 111. 
The lowest temperature for that section, in winter, is recorded as 43° 
below zero, a,t La Crosse, Wis., or an absolute range of temperature of 
140°. The highest temperature on record, for the Missouri valley. 111 , 
recorded at Fort Sully, in Southern Dakota. The lowest temperature, 
for that section, is 42° below zero, at Fort Bennett, in South Central 
Dakota, making an absolute range of temperature for the Missouri val- 
ley 153°. The third section, the extreme Northwest, has a highest tem- 
perature of 107°, recorded at Fort Buford, Dakota, and a lowest temper- 
ature of 59° below zero, recorded at Pembina, Dakota ; making the 
absolute range of temperature for the extreme Northwest 166°. The 
highest temperature on record for Nor! hern Louisiana is 107°, recorded 
at Shreveport, and the highest on record lor Southern Louisiana is 97°; 
at New Orleans. The lowest temperature on record for Northern Louisi- 
ana is 6° at Shreveport, and the lowest for Southern Louisiana, is 20° at 
New Orleans, making the absolute range of temperature for the north- 
ern part of the State 101°, and for the southern part 77°, the latter 
range being less than one-half of the range of either of the three sec- 
tions quoted. 

To compare the mean relative humidity of the various sections : From 
a record covering from 1870 to 1885, the mean annual relative humidity 
of the Upper Mississippi Valley is computed to be 69 per cent, the mean 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 45 



for the Missouri valley is 69 per cent, the mean for the extreme North- 
west is 74 per cent, and the mean for Louisiana is 71 percent, being but 
two per cent above t lie average for the two first named, and three per 
cent below the latter. The highest mean monthly, during the year, in 
Louisiana, is but 74 per cent, whereas the highest in either of the other 
sections, is 91 per cent. 

The rainfall of the sections under consideration is as follows: The 
average annual for the Upper Mississippi valley is 39 inches; the greater 
part of it falling during the summer months. The average for Louisiana 
is 60 inches, ranging from 4 to 6 inches for each month during the 
year. 

From the foregoing official records it is plain that there is no section 
east of the Rocky Mountains, that can compete with Louisiana in cli- 
mate. If we have rivals, they alone exist in sections of Oregon and 
California. 

The following are extracts of reports from those States: 
The State of California lias an average annual temperature ranging 
from 51° to 55° on the coast, to 62° in the interior, against a normal 
temperature for Louisiana of from 65° in the northern portion of the 
State, to 68° in the southern portion. California lias an average rain- 
fall of 11 inches at San Diego, to 28 inches at lied Bluff. An average 
annual relative humidity of from f>4 to 82 per cent— San Francisco hav- 
ing an average of 75 percent, and San Diego 73 per cent, against an 
average for Louisiana of 71 per cent. 

The highest temperature at Los Angeles, Cal., is 108° ; at Led Bluff, 
110°; at Sacramento, 106° ; and coast maximums ranging from 90° to 
101°. At Davidsville and Dunnigan, Cal., maximum temperature of 
1 is were recorded. 

The lowest temperatures for the State range from 16° tO 33° J the 
highest minimums being reported from stations on the coast. The low- 
est temperature recorded on the Louisiana coast is 34°. 

Westerly winds prevail in California, blowing from the ocean. In 
Louisiana southerly winds prevail, Mowing from the Gulf. 

In the matter of clear, fair, and cloudy Mays, California has, doubt- 
Less, a greater amount of .sunshine during the summer months, with 
almost a total lack of rainfall. During the winter months, fogs are very 
frequent in California. The rainfall in Louisiana is evenly distributed 
throughout the year, with an absence or the foggy days. 

" Climatically speaking, the therapeutic area of Southern California is 
small. It is limited to those localities only which are directly intlu- 
enced by the ocean breeze, and extends hut a few miles inland. In the 
valleys hack from the coast the summer heat becomes unbearable ; there 
is hut slight vegetation, and good wafer is not easily procured. The 
winters are. however, mild and dry. Only a few inches of rain annu- 
ally, and out-door life is practicable." 

Oregon claims several distinct climates within her borders: On the 
coast, the rainfall averages from 39 to 79 inches ; in the Willamette 
valley, from 41 to 67 inches; and in the remainder of the State, from 9 
to 34 inches annually. The rainy season begins October 15th and ends 
Mayl. Regarding the temperature, it is sufficient to state that the 
range in the interior of Oregon is from 22 below zero to 106 ahove. Kill- 
ing frosts occur on an average of nine months during the year. 

Louisiana has hut one climate, and that well defined. We have hot 
weather, hut we have also the cool Gulf breeze extending inland, reach- 
ing the extreme northern portion of the State, which has. however, a 
higher temperature than that recorded in the southern portion during 
the summer. The rainfall and moisture in the atmosphere are nearly 



46 SOME LATE WORDS 



the same, being slightly less north than south. The summers are long, 
but necessarily so for the crops that are grown. 

Louisiana's comparative immunity from killing frosts is graphically 
portrayed on the small chart on the lower corner of the weather map. 
It willbe seen that the extreme northern part of this State has the ad- 
vantage of Northern Florida in this particular, and that the southern 
part of Louisiana, from Avoyelles parish to the Gulf, has no rival, save 
the southern portion of Florida Peninsula. This is explainable by the 
fact that the majority of the cold waves that sweep southward over the 
country during the winter season, are deflected east of Louisiana, and 
for the following reasons : The atmosphere moves in huge, waves, simi- 
lar to water. The cold wave is the base of the crest of this wave, and 
the hollow between the crests is the storm center. A storm off the 
Texas coast, and a cold wave forming in the northwest, are conditions 
suitable for a great fall in temperature between those regions; since the 
air resting on the surface of the earth moves out from under a high pres- 
sure, iloxving in the direction of low pressure, Avliich in this case would 
mean cold, northerly winds flowing from the northwest of Texas. But 
since all the movements of the atmosphere have an eastward tendency, 
the storm that ( was in the Gulf yesterday, will be found hundreds of 
miles to the eastward to-day, and the cold wave sweeping down from 
the northwest has had its attractions removed, and the cold surface 
winds are now from the northwest. Another cause of the immunity we 
have from these cold waves is that, there is a wall of warm, moist air 
overhanging the Gulf, extending over the interior of the State, and the 
intermingling of the mass of cold air from the north with this warm air, 
is seldom before both masses have passed eastward out of range of the 
State. 

Another cause is that, storms having their origin on the eastern Rocky 
Mountain slope, have for an attraction the great lakes; since all storms 
will move toward a humid atmosphere and to where they have a clear 
sweep, thus occounting for the great number of our cyclones moving out 
of the St. Lawrence valley. 

It must not be understood from the foregoing, that Louisiana has no 
cold waves, for during the past winter (my first in the South), the tem- 
perature in this city fell to 29° above zero; but while we escaped with 
that temperature, caused by a high pressure of air that swept down be- 
low a storm having its origin in Indiana, Florida on the same latitude, 
had a temperature lower than that recorded here. [Great applause]. 

Note.— The data from which the foregoing lias been compiled are from signal service 
records covering the period from November 1, 1870, to January 1, 1886, and do not include the 
cold wave of January, 188C, when minimum temperatures of from 5 to 10 degrees below any 
previous record were reported from the majority of Southern and Eastern States. 

The climate in the vicinity of New Orleans has received most elabor- 
ate treatment at the hands of Col. M. B. Hillyard, of that city. With 
pen and speech, he has been quite awhile agitating the topic, particu- 
larly in connection with the point of showing the desirability of that 
city as a winter resort, and contrasting its attractions with other noted 
Southern cities in that regard. In that behalf, he made an address be- 
fore the Chamber of Commerce of Denver, Colorado, last June (1888), at 
the request of the Chamber of Commerce of New Orleans, on the occa- 
sion of an excursion of the latter body to Denver, as the guests of the 
former body. Still more elaborately, he promulgated his views later on, 
and, by an immense array of statistics, foi . ifietl impregnably the grounds 
he took in behalf of climate. He kindly furnishes the following matter, 
and embraces in it entirely new reflections, the result of his own re- 
search, and not to be found in the books : 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 47 



New Orleans, La., March 1, 18S9. 
Hon. T. W. Poole, Commissioner of Immigration of Louisiana, New Orleans, La.: 

Mt Bear Sir — With much pleasure. I furnish you something on the climate of Louisiana. 
When I first promulgated my views of the climate of this city, from the standpoint of 8ft 
to a group of Influential friends of the Chamber of Commerce of New Orle ms. the 
ine surprise, and considerable questioning; but the ever obliging and must efficient United 
States Signal Corps Director of the Louisiana Weather Service, Capt. Jl E. Kerkani. furnished 

a graphic map, at the request of the then secretary of the Chamber of Com rceofNewOr- 

leans, the broad-minded and most energetic, Rev. D. L. Mitchell. Would that thi i map were 
printed! At a glance, one comprehends its most striking and almost unknown truths, until 
later agitation has engraven them deeply into public apprehension. 

It was deemed so groat a revelation by the Chamber of Commerce of this rite, that T was 
deputed by its energetic president, Hon. H. Dudley Coleman, to deliver an address on the 
topic before the Chamber of Commerce of Denver, < !ol., which < all I gladly obeyed last June. 
Since then, my investigations have taken wider scope, and still more startling statistii 
been compiled by me. This letter affords only scope for nothing but a most meagre abbrevia- 
tion ol' my stfbject-matter ; but I send yon something. 

The investigations into Louisiana at large are a matter of recent research, and are not ob- 
tainable in books. The data are scattered, and have cost rather tedious delving to uncover. 
I beg here, to publicly express my obligations to Capt. Kerkam for his courteous facilitation 
of my labors. 

Before, however, the resortis made to dry statistics, it ought to ho said that statistics do 
not convey (Very often] adequate impressions. Men's feelings frequently controvert the ex- 
pectations of facts. For illustration: People will complain at the coldness of a temperature 
at Jacksonville, St. Augustine (Florida); .Mobile Alabama; New Orleans, Louisiana, and 
elsewhere South, near water, when the thermometer says it is not cold. But there is an ele- 

ment called, very happily, "rawness" of atmosphere, that someti s disappoints bitterly the 

glorious forecasts of imagination. Then, too, the worst and only occasional aspects of tem- 
re or weather, become to their prejudiced and embittered judgments, the criteria of 
climate. Coming to New Orleans (maybe), and Gilding, in a sojourn of six months, a possible 
ite of this "nawsty" weal her of two or three weeks, t bey disregard and ignore stretches 
or weather of balmiest airs and lovely skies, and almost perpetual bloom of even delicate 
flowers. Such is human nature, and it is useless to quarrel at it. 

Then, too, soil makes a semi-fallacy of temp, rature, and drainage, likewise. Take two 
soils, one stiff, impervious; the other sandy ami permeable. Given the same temperature, the 
same quality of atmosphere, the same motion of wind. And the Sandy soil will leave upon 
the mind and feelings better impressions . And, if the same flat, impermeable soil, in one 
• covered with water, ami in the other not, the feelings and air will b If any 

one doubts this, let him live in ihe well-drained parts of this city, and then try, for a short 
time, a residence of the illy-drained. 

Then, too, there come in certain occnlt influences and impressions, the effects of which are 
imponderable, where discomforts, annoyances and disgust discolor the eye and becloud the 
judgment, and so utterly confuse and confound the apprehension, thai remediable incidents 
ami conditions that cry "loudly for redress, and are reflections upon publio apathy, in 
civic poverty, and unfeeling concern, ami a due appreciation of the needs of sanitation; these, 

are fallaciously attributed, by the afflicted and disgruntled i Lctim of them, to < 
when climate has no proper connection with them. I treat the topic somewhat large, be- 
cause, just now, there is a pervasive (and 1 hope it will eventuate in an effective), agitation on 
toe subject of drainage of this city. This effectually done (and it is a matter of easy feasi- 
bility), and our city will show a marked increase in health, in the comfort of its inhabitants, 
and in the dryness of its atmosphere. By lowering water-surface, by relieving the soil of 
much water that its tough texture holds in its clammy grasp, the sun can get a chance to 
warm the soil and radiate its heat, and constitute a blander atmosphere, and make a better 
showing in the annals of climate. When this drainage shall have been done. New Orb ans 
will sh.w an almost peerless climate; as it has, now, one of the loveliest, iu many aspects, in 
the world. 

But, to return to general considerations of how misleading, to the feelings, often are more 
thermometrical and hygrometrica] data. Climate his certain features that are above and 
all those. To illustrate: Take the calm, still, cold of parts of New England, and 
me States further West. Pat the thermometer at 20° below zero, Fahrenheit. Now, 
take a "blizzard" Western State. Given an identical degree of cold; but given a velocity of 
wind of fifty or even forty miles an hour. In the latter condition, man and beast will suffer 
great ly . In the former, one may walk or ride in the keen, still air, and, properly pro 
may not suffer. It is insidious, though, lor one, not knowing its treacherous, stilloito-like 
eh. ii actor, may have members of the body frozen, or even freeze to death, and not be conscious 
of it. 'ibis movement of air is a most vital consideration, in all attempts at estimat 
mate. And yet it receives, from the average man, either no consideration, or none but the 
most superficial. Generalities count, for little, and I must illustrate, to bo at all iinprea ive. 
One of tho bitterest days of suffering lever experienced was in Northern Kansas. I had 
often wished to see a blizzard. I took a drive some ten miles across the country, with a 
drivor as guide. The day was a bright and beautiful one in late September if my memory bo 
not at fault. The air was so delightful, that my diiver did not take his overcoat. Soon a 
faint, thin haze appeared. It thickened. Now and then spattering rain drops cane . The 
wind arose. It strengthened. Soon it blew strong and unremittingly , It was in my face. 
My solaoe was that, on my return, it would be behind me, and I should be comfortable with 
tho protection of the "buggy" back. I paid my visit quickly. Started back. The wind in- 
creased, and blew with remorseless steadiness aud violenoo. I had overcoat and shawl. All 
were in use. Still I could not keep warm. Iu holding my hat on my head, my hand was 
numb in two minutes. The driver got out to keep from freezing, and never entered tho car- 
riage again ; running for miles. The horse had hard work to pull me in a slow trot, so hard 
did the wind blow against the vehicle, for it seemed to front me at all turns. The rainfall was 
insignificant, only spattering drops through the swirling mist, stinging like spent shot from a 



48 SOME LATE WORDS 

gun. I got to my hotel at last, nearly frozen, and that night it was not nearly cold enough for 
a fire. I have never wished to be in a winter blizzard since ! 

Once I was in New York, in Dutchess county, twenty miles east of the Hudson. It was late 
December. On a bright, cloudless day, about 8 a. m., I took a short walk. (It had not been 
cold the day before. ) I found, to ray surprise, several inches of ice on a lake that was entirely 
open the preceding day. It was so still, that the dead leaf never rustled in the tree. I wa» 
so deceived, that my overcoat (as I think) was not worn. Upon my return to the house, I 
looked at the thermometer, and it registered six (G) degrees below zero — Fahrenheit. It was 
so still (no wind) that I was grossly deceived, not living in New York. But my nose and ears 
made a narrow escape from freezing. I should have been far more conscious of cold in Central 
Delaware (where I then lived), wit h the thermometer ti fteen (15) degrees above zero — Fahrenheit. 
Take another illustration of wind in Western Texas — the "Norther." There the utmost 
suffering may come to man, and often death to brutes, with a suddenness that almost passe* 
belief, and yet often it is not cold enough to make ice. And even in summer there are, some- 
times, these winds there. 

And this leads me to just say, that sudden changes are features of climate that ought to re- 
ceive due consideration, especially when the changes are ivide extremes. And the reader is 
begged to weigh duly the showing Uapt. Kerkam makes, in the premises, in favor ot New 
( Irleans. There may be a sudden change here from 60* or 70* Fahrenheit, in winter, to 20' to 
30°, in twelve to twenty-four hours. One knows it and feels it, and the visitor who is looking 
for perpetual Paradise here will carp at it ; but it is something horrible, where he comes from, 
when the weather changes from fifty above zero to twenty below, in the same time. 

And it is important to impress the reader that these high winds and sudden changes are 
what rack the constitution. In any of these cold, windy States, one will find catarrh fearfully 
prevalent, and its almost congeners and common sequels, pulmonary consumption and chronic 
bronchitis. 

Now, for summer winds. The discomforts of these at the West (particularly), to the physi- 
cal existence of man, is only one feature. In some of the States there, they not only raise, 
very frequently, great swirling clouds of dust, impairing eyesight, filling the lungs, rendering 
untidy wearing apparel, begriming face and hands ; but, have serious, and often, fatal effects 
upon agriculture. Its sirocco-like heat impairs vegetables and field-crops, and often hope- 
lessly blights and withers them. The extreme dryness of these winds finds an added ele- 
ment of detriment or destruction in their velocity. Every one knows the drying effect of high 
winds, and this, blended with the capacity of their absorption of moisture, soon leave the 
ground robbed of moisture needed for plant and vegetable life, even after heavy rainfall or 
irrigation. I have known, in Colorado, fields, where were growing crops, that were profusely 
irrigated one day. to need the same treatment, as badly, the next. The thirsty air and the 
greedy wind had plundered soil and crop of their sustenance and moisture. 

In parts of Kansas, hay must often be stacked at night, on account of high winds. And 
the high, hot winds dry up the streams, too, in many places West, entailing suffering and 
death to live stock. And, because the air absorbs the moisture so, the rainfall has not the 
chance to permeate the soil ; and water, for family use in pumps and wells, is greatly reduced 
in quantity, and, in summer, in many places West, water is often a commodity, selling at so 
much per barrel or bucket. Frequently, farmers have to drive five miles, and haul muddy 
water from holes in streams, whose beds are, elsewhere, dry. And it is a common thing, at 
farm houses, to see some such notice as this : " No water given away, but for drinking pur- 
poses." In fact, it would be almost impossible to enumerate all the drawbacks of an area of 
scanty rainfall, aggravated by prevalent high winds. It takes the bloom from the cheek of 
beauty, and blights that of the rose. It blasts the fairest fields. Itfbrings death to the 
beasts of burden, and numberless discomforts to man. In some parts it literally blows crops 
away, denuding them of soil, until finally, the crops, wheat, oats, and rye are removed, and 
piled in dried masses, far from the localities where they were sown. And in the places where 
the high, hot winds prevail, and the scant rainfall (and these seem inseparable), the terrible 
blizzard dominates in winter, and the awful cyclone revels in summer. 

Louisiana has blessings of climate that no panegyric can adequately portray. Her rainfall 
is more profuse than that of almost any State in the Union (or Territory, for that matter) . It 
is well distributed throughout the year. Inestimable is the strange happiness of the. fact that, 
it is greater in summer than other times ; for that is the season for crop making— just when it is 
need/d most. Theu, the dews play a great part, too ; and are a great preventive against crops 
suffering for want of water. Every one knows how scant are the dews West, or else how 
totally wanting. And, in connection with rainfall, there is a nice point to be made, in that 
a very large quantity pf ammonia always existing in the earlier stages of rainfall, and the 
rainfall of Louisiana being profuse, her soil secures a vast quantum of fertility from the sky, 
as it were. 

In this fact lies the solution (in my opinion) of the problem to so many agriculturists. In 
parts of the State, they find lands bringing immense crops of grass. The Western farmer, 
reasoning from his home-experiences, assames that the soil wilt bring corresponding crops of 
corn, oats, etc.; but finds hinneU' disappointe I, and experiences small crops, without fertiliz- 
ation. The explanation is that, tue grass glows so, and yields such crops, because of the 
large quantity of ammonia in the rainfall, and because the sun do xj not evaporate it. because 
the ammonia is absorbed quickly. The rainfall is a liquid manure, and the grass, shading the 
soil, prevents the sun from evaporating the ammonia. 

As Louisiana cannot have dry winds (except almost phenominally), so she has no high ones, 
SO far as moisture-abs n-ptieil or removal of moisture is concerned. Her high winds are storm 
winds, and almost necessarily involve precipitation — generally marked by heavy rainfall. 

But, while Louisiana'-; is no a win ly climate, it is a breezy »ne The airs from the < i ult' of 
Mexico ar ■ pr i-eminently bla id, o »ol ng, and softly exhilarating. Parti ul irly are they in their 
Btrongest effects, soothing to shattered nerves; and the experiences of the. Western immi- 
grants in Southwest Louisiana, give most incon'testible proofs that Louisiana's climate is 
most beneficial to catarrh and rheumatism. An explanation of their effects is most easy as to 
catarrh. The atmosphere is heavily charged with salineness, and the air inhaled reaches th"> 
seats of disease, in perpetual medication and insensible administration, beyond the reach and 
annoyances of man's applications; which are often nauseating and expensive. Everyone 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 49 



knows that it is a common affair to snuff salt water up the nostrils for catarrh and other dis- 
eases of the head : and the atmosphere of the Gulf of Mexico has none of tho intermittency, 
pungency and partliness of that remedy, and has all its beneficial effects. 

The beneficial results as to rheumatism are not so directly explicable by rae. I presume 
that, ozone from the sea, in its invigorating and tonic effects j that exorcise, open air, with 
(heir system-building opportunities, through better appetite and digestion, exercise an influ- 
ence quite imponderable. Thou, exemption from high winds, and the rigors of winter, play 
a very important part in the good work. Every one with a frail constitution knows what 
dreadful havoc excessive cold plays with the nerves, and creates or aggravates neuralgia. I 
am quite certain that excessive coW is a very material factor in rheumatism ; and, while I am 
willing to, most readily admit that, for persons not subject to the rigors of winter, the 
greater dampness is not so favorable to rheumatism as a dryer air and a greater altitude, yet, 
taking all in all, the climate near the Gulf of Mexico is far better for rheumatism than life, 
in much, if not most, of the West. Experience in the last analysis of tests, and be the ex- 
planation what it may, the triumphant fact voices a paean, to Louisiana's climate, of scores ot 
literally rejuvenated Western people, who were distorted and racked by the pangs of rheu- 
matism in their old homes at the West. The proof, on that score, is decisive, and the matter 
is aloof from the domain of conjecture. 

Ami while I wish to touch the topic with due delicacy of assertion, it would be an outrage 
on the climate, and a wrong to fact, not to state that most of our climate is highly beneficial 
(if not curative of), chronic bronchitis and pulmonary consumption, in cases where parties have 
lived in a more rigorous climate. I do not think one need go far to get at facts of deepest im- 
port in explanation of those results. A person goes from a temperature of 100* or more de- 
frees, Fehrenbeit, in his house, into a temperature of from zero to 20° or more degrees below. 
s there any trouble in knowing what the cold air does with delicate throat and lungs .' And 
breathe, one must. One is confined in a highly-heated, poisoned atmosphere, by breathing, 
again and again, the same air, because the excessive coldness of the outside air prevents 
proper ventilatian. In order to resist the rigors of cold, with bodily vitality, food, strong in 
carbon-making quality, is needed. That demands good digestion, and exercise and pure air 
are gnat factors thereof. But, the open air is an open door to the citadel and seat of dis- 
sease (the tender lungs and throat), of their worst enemy, zero, and twelve below. So indoors 
and out, is danger or death. Here, in Louisiana, zero is never touched by the hand of the icy king. 
Open air and exercise are always possible. Fire-places dispense their healthful warmth and 
enheartening and picturesque glow. Food high in carbon-making is not needed, or if eaten, 
exercise and pure air can promote its digestion.. No stealthy assassins of lungs and throat, 
8tab|these with their keea stilettos, in the guise of zero and his m rmidons from his lower realm. 

And, if the sufferer from these last two complaints, selects some spot in the pine-woods, 
where the air is dryer, he finds additional advantages in altitude, and the balsamic airs medi- 
cated by the odorous pine— securing healing or soothing from them, with the ozone of the sea 
combined with the soft and almost ethereal mildness of the Gulf breezes. No one can de- 
scribe properly a winter s day in the pinewoods of Louisiana, when that day is at its best; 
when, far away in the ethery depths, the sky, without fleck or film, seems to look down in a 
grandeur of love like benignity upon the enraptured earth ; when the spell that defies explana- 
tion, draws from the dear and inexhaustible repertory of nature so many hew itching elements. 

The pine sighs its soul in sadly-sweet monotone, in such enchanting diminuendoea and cres- 
cendoes, that it seems to play a "delicious motette; like a wonderful musician a melody on one 
.string of charmed instrument. The mockingbird, in many-a winding bout of "delicious lay," in 

•'The sweet music of his open mouth," 
'• And linked sweetness long drawn out." 
"From the sugared nest of his delicious soul, 
Lets fly "a shoal of full tledg'd notes" 

that sparkle in crystalline delight, and float, and run. and soar, until they greet the azure 
welkin, and seem to challenge a seraph for a music-duel. 
Underfoot, the flowers, 

""With rich inlay, broider the ground, 
And make mosaic." 

Near by, in tome embowered cottage, with garden full of jonquils, hyacynths, narcissus, etc., 

"The rose rears high her flourished head." 
On the bosom of some stately magnolia, tho yellow jasamine has woven its graceful wildnesa 
of golden embroidery. Enough of these. But, bring this easy possibility to pass. Put mora 
features in the picture, of other flowers, and multifarious odors, more mocking-birds, and 
breezes soft as when 

"Zephyrus on Flora breathes," 

and you have only a few traits of a winter's day, in thousands of Louisiana homes, 

Now bring your consumptive from hot rooms and foul airs, from piercing cold and howling 
winds, where 'even "the rathe primrose" has not yet put in an appearance, and where the 
flow era have not yet 

"Awak'd from the dreams of their wintery rest." 

Place your invalid in the setting I have made, and see if he will not be a different picture, 
in heart and health, than in the frame of ice where he shuddered and shivered, and pined and 
faded, in his Western prison: the forerunner of tomb, had he remained at home. Surely, one 

may say, with utterly changed import, and with the irony of cold fact, ot such a home: 

"There's no place like home." 

But I want to tell of a most material aspect of our Breezes, the latter almost always prevail- 
ing all day and night (dying down to almost stillness at nightfall, for a, short time, tie 
ing in the early morning, and coming on soon after), that thej are one great explanation of our 
health. They dissipate, before them, "the lazy elemeuts that else would stagnate into pesti- 
lence." The almost perpetual movement of the air scatters miasma, and prevents festering 



50 SOME LATE WOEDS 



and seething gasses from their deadly or deleterious effects in climates less winnowed by 
breeze. The seaborn airs 

" Their gelid wings expand, 
And winnow fragrance o'er a smiling land. 

Any ene not conversant with the antidotal quality of saline air, in Louisiana, will look, in 
perfect amazement, at the fens and holes in Louisiana, where scum and tilth, and stagnation 
are seen on or arouud.pools and ponds near the homes where indifferent people reside, and 
wonder at the health of the inhabitants. But, the pervading and prevailing breezos are the 
explanation. And then the saliness of the breezes make them strongly antiseptic, and de- 
stroys microbes and bacteria, may be. So pure is our air, nearer the coast, that people .cut 
their beef — "jerk it," to use the provincialism — and hang it on the fences to dr>- which it dues 
without putrefaction. And I have seen venison, even some distance from the coast, keep 
sweet and untainted for two days (how much longer it would have kept I don't know, for it 
was then eaten), hung out in the open air, with the temperature away up in the seventies. < )ne 
might think flies would soon in test it. Not so. The remarkable paucity of many species of It+es, 
in many localities, and the little annoyance flies are generally to live stock, iu* many quarters, 
is one of the paradoxes of our country. But, I must not be inveigled from my mam topic, by 
that strange and important fact. 

Our nights, in summer, are almost always cool and sleep-inviting. Rightly placed, a man 
might almost spend a long lifetime in almost any part of this State and never once lose a 
night's sleep on account of excessive heat. By being '.'rightly placed." I mean having a 
sleeping apartment that enjoys the coolness that nature affords. If he gets in some room, in 
a large hotel, in a city, or elsewhere, that has been heated iu the day of a midsummer's neat, 
and that has not been cooled, or cannot be cooled by the delicious breezes playing else ■,■■ ;< i e, 
and that have lowered the temperature to a delightful degree, then he will welter (as lie will 
North and West), in heat and sleepliness much, it not all the night. But, that is not climate, 
but location. 

Our suffering here is, (in summer), out of the breeze. Shut your windows, get out of the 
breeze, let the breeze cease, and one suffers. One notices it, particularly, wheu the sky be- 
comes clouded, and the breeze lays ; generally, a condition of things closely or immediately 
preceding a rain or thunder storm. That is our most trying type of heat, I think. It is sul- 
try. The olouds act as a roof to prevent radiation ; the cooling effects of the breezes cease, 
and, to one not used to it, it is apt to be trying for awhile. Then, too, the moisture surcharg- 
ing the air, prevents absorbtion of the perspiration, and makes one sweat profusely, while a 
dry heat would absorb insensible perspiration, and measureably relieve. But, the sultri- 
ness and stillness are not the weather ot Louisiana's climate. They aro hardly features, 
rather expressions, of our weather. Her face is sunshine, and her breath is vocal. Her 
shades are always delicious, cooling, soothing, grateful, satisfying when nature is in her normal 
mood. One may suffer in the sun ; but the shade never disappoints, in the prevalent con- 
ditions. I don't know but. the best way to put it is to say that the sun is hot, but the air cool. 
Out West, as I have ridden over their great prairies, in a carriage, exposed to the sun's rays 
(and they are fiercer than ours), I have said : " Well I'll soon be in the shade, and then I'll 
be comfortable." Alas ! I was disappomted. The air is hot as well as the sun. Western 
people are constantly wondering at Southern men complaining at the heat North and 
West, in many places ; and deem it an idiosyncracy or affectation : but a man from the saline 
atmospheres (particularly), of much of the South, will always suffer in the summer-heat of 
much of the West, and will find intense comfort in getting back to the delicious coolness of 
Southern shades. I have spent enough summers in New Orleans, to know its climate and 
weather. Then, I have spent summers near the Catskills, in New York ; at Saratoga Springs, 
New York ; Cape May, New Jersey ; some time at Newport, Rhode Island ; in various points 
West and North, even to Lake Superior; and, given a cool room here, so far as delicious 
sleeping and lovely, cooling breezes are concerned, I give my preference to New Orleans. 

It used to be the fashion for our people to go North or West every summer. Much of it was 
an affectation of fashion, and a whim of travel. Now, they are building summer cottages on 
the coast betweon here and Mobile, and will soon be doing the same at the grand surf of our 
coast further West : Grand Isle and elsewhere. 

This matter of breeziness has a very material connection with the question of labor in the 
field, in the walks of agriculture and horticulture. I have said that the breeze dies down 
after prevailing through the night, begins again from 6 a. m. to 10 a. m. (rarely so late as the 
latter hour), blows until about sunset, ceases from one to three hours, and then blows until 
early morning ; (that is the summer habit). JFrom this, one cau see that the working hours 
are the breezy ones in the day ; and that ninht offers the soft lure of " nature's sweet restorer, 
balmy sleep," to the weary worker of the day. It is a beautiful economy of nature, and looks 
like a partiality of Providence. How the hot nights of some climates murder sleep ;" and 
the mail who has " borne the heat and burden of the day," and is worn out with work and 
lassitude, lies down in vain attempt to recuperate for the labors of the morrow by sleep ; or if 

"Hushed by buzzing night-flies to his slumber, 
It is a ' snort and disturbed repose.' " 

full of tosslngs and feverish snatches of sweltering unrest. 

And then, the native of other climes — Eugland and part 1 ! of Italy, will not fail to remember 
the still air of summer days. The poets tell us of them. Thus Mi! ton : 

" His look 
Drew audience and attention still as night 
Or summer's noon-tide air." 



Shelley writes : 
Lat«r, Tennyson i 



4 When noon lays heavy on land and tree." 

" The all-weary noons." 

There has been written much nonsense about Northern men not being able to stand field 
labor in the South. The pen and tongue of slander, iu this regard, have not ceased, even now. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 51 



And, considerable honest misapprehension still exists in tho minds of Northern and V, 
men. Ii is worth a few words here, to do our share to dispel it. About fifteen yeai 
had a Ion* interchange of views with Sir John Crossly. M. P., of England. He was, at that 
time, president of the Mississippi Valley Society, of which the Honorable Jefferson Davis, tho 
illustrious nud revered President of the Southern Confederacy, was the leading An 
represontutiTe and official. TIhb society had, for its aim, the development I issippi 

Valley (mainly), through the mterventios or introduction of I nterpriae and 

immigration. ' Sir John told me that, a pressing need was to i emoye, from t he English mind, 
the opinion engraven upon it by ft century of cogent, vehement, reiteration upon the part of 
the S -iitli (as the fundamental defense of and apology for African Blavery), thai tl 
could not, stand field labor there, and that negro slavery was a n< cetts\ ty of her agriculture. He 
said that that belief wan wide spread, by eason ol its sincere, long and ui i 
tion. Immediately, I set to work, issuing a circular-letter, directed to Europeans and 
Northern white men whe bad come South, and had tried field labo test the- 

matter, as to the truth or falsity of the statement. This circular-letter I sent, a copy 
evei \ paper, in two or more Southern States, especially Mississippi and Louisiana. Papers in 
other Southern States copied the letter. I was overwhohnoa with replies, at 
moor covered, I presume the experiences of thousands ; tor, one letter represented several 
; Swedes who had located h Mississippi. The gist of the reply was, to utterly re- 
fute the fallacy. Numerous letters not only spoke of standing field labor South as well as in 

Id homea North and West, but of even standing it better; and, in addition, spoke of 
improved health. More than this I remember one or more instances, where wl ite men eu 
dared labor on railroad work (track-repairing, etc.:, betti -roes— the et 

tain John J. Conway, of tihe Illinois Central Kailroad (Southern branch), giving me much 
. ton in the last regard. And the convention of Northern men « ho have lived in Louis- 
Id in New Orleans last August, 1888— to assert the proof of fifteen years ago, was a 

nation and echo thereof, the only difference being thai mj investigations took a far 

wider range, and embraced, not only Louisiana, but several other Southern States. So, i 

hear soon, no more of this utterly false assertion. 

It is quite sure that, now and then (semi occasionally), the climate does not agree with one 

from tho North or West, at that place where he has located. But somewhere else in the 

Star.- night. And even if no place suits.it is only what is happening in thousands of in- 

here! Many people are not well anywhere. And, then, it is certainly true that, 

some people come South with the most absurd expectations. They come, maybe, from a 

country where drought has ruined them, or frequently blights their old homes. And, then, 

when the rainfall is one of the richest bounties of Provideace to Louisiana, and it mull make 

Betimes, and indoors a necessity, they complain at mud and rain. They come from 

the blizsard- infested hilt, where they go to' and from the stable by "safety lines'' from the 

house; where they are absolutely besieged bi storm for days ; where man and beast 

to d.'cth, or die from starvation because they can't be reached with Co.nI; wh»re the 
>..! oter stays below aero tor weeks ; whore they som stiiues have to burn fences, and even 
parts of their residences and barns for fuel, to save them from freezing, and they will come 
South, and if the thermometer he 15° or 20° Fahrenheit, they will say they suffer from cold 
here more than when at home. Well, they may sutler more South, at that tern.} 
at home, with the same temperature; but tiiev don't suffer hall', nay, even a tenth, as much 
from that temperature South, as they do at /. >ro and below, at home. The fallacy consists in 
not comparing oir worst weather with theirs. And. let it he remembered that, if our air 
be a little raw and more uncomfortable than his al home, when the thermometer marks the 
same degree id' cold in both instances, let them remember thai it is only anoomfortable, 
not (humorous, deadly or expensive, and has not, as its incidents, the fearful catalogue we 
have mentioned as characteristics of his winter in the West. Let it be understood, too, 
that our disagreeable, mean weather is of short duration (only a "cold snap") while he is 
liable to months at home. and. in fierce continuity, too. But, when one finds a man who 
South, from the West, and innocently tells you that he thought overcoats were 
never needed here in winter (as is the ca.se sometimes), or when he walks our or rides, in 
our roughest weather, without that garment, and m such oases complains, and is su 
at feeling cold, can any wonder at. such an one telling you. in inane sincerity, that it is 
as cold here, or colder than at the winter-ridden ami b'lizt I Wis, I Don't he 

know better? Why, the very roses blush for him. as if in sham.- at his hardened cheek 
or shallow brain, and breathe refutation myriads of other flowers with their odors. The 

radishes, let) ice, garden "sass." and other ofonnd him. All nature, 

animate and inanimate, seems to reply: even tin- lords, in melodious contradiction, and 
ins chickens m tho baru yard, and tho bees a-wing. the strawberries ripening or 
eaten at his host's table. 

In summer, ho wili talk of heat., and will tell you ih n 1° Fahrenheit here, is more puni- 
tive and trying than Kim or 105° in his Western home. That may be. But let it be un- 
derstood that we don't have that heat regularly in Louisiana. Let it deeply impress tho 
carper, too, that if our temperature be more snltry, that betokens great advantanges. It 

means almost total immunity from sunstroke, so common North and West, that plftVS such 

sad havoc with man and beast. The sun's rays are measurably quenched and cooled, in 
the moisture of the atmosphere. Let him remember, too, that our sultriness means rain- 
fall, and that means crop-making, exemption t.oni ruinous droughts, prosperity to agri- 
culture. Let him remember that it mean-; coolness in the shade, delightful slumbers at 
night, noble forests, perennial streams, perpetual fruits and flowers. Let him remember 
that, on this earth incompatible advantn I to he had. One cannot have unitod 

the b^st aspects of a dry climate, and those when- there is a more humid one. 

If the cavalier retorts ihat the extreme heat of his climate is of shorter duration, and is re- 
lieved by intervals of grwat change ; granted. Hut are regularity, evenness at' climate noth- 
ing! Is it a dasidercttuiH, to-day to welter in the heat 01 103 d , and to-morrew have to wear 
overcoats, and drive with buffalo robes J In New Orleans (and most of Louisiana), one can 
put on a linen garb in May, and wear it daily, almost or quite, to mid-October. Many places 
North and West, it is linen to-day, and thick, woolen clothing to-morrow. Sometimes, it is 
both tho same day. In faot, people from the North and West experience needless suffering 



52 



SOME LATE WORDS 



from ourlaeat, because they persist in wearing the same heavy clothing here that prudence 
dictates and safety demands at home. They fear to attire themselves as we of the ; t to do, 
lest, forsooth, they should catch " cold ! ' They avoid draughts of air, to sleep or > tin the 
iiight air, when our people do it with almost "total impunity. It is amusing to ride on the 
cars, and see the timorous people pull down the windows, pile on the wraps, ami swelter ; and 
then complain of heat ! And I have known them to go in rooms to sleep, already hot, put 
down the windows, use heaps of bed-clothing, for dread of the night air; and then say they 
can't stand our climate — next morning jaded and worn out by the sweat-bath of the night. 
Next door, some sensible man had the wind blowing over him in great waves of balmy cool- 
ness ; and in the moruing is cheery with his deep and restful slumbers of the past night. But, 
these half-hypochondriacs are only using the needed precautions of home. They know how 
insidious and hurtful is the night air theje. They know that they dare not sit or sleep in a 
"draught," lest they should take cold. And, they bring their habits and precautions here, 
with added apprehensions of Southern air ; as though the soft and kindly breezes were devils 
in disguise, armed with chills, fevers, colds, etc. Lot them throw such foolery to the winds ! 
And, if our reply to cavils will not satisfy that one who is so unpersuadable, then let him 
weigh the great, unanswerable argument that, he certainly must confess the discomforts, 
diseases, deaths, expenses incidental to his long winters, are i'ar worse than the real or fancied 
discomforts of our long summers. 

Our rain, in summer, is seldom in the night, from May to December. In winter, it is 
heavier at night than day time. Explanations easy, but 1 pass on. 

If there be an enquiry at or wonder how we have so much precipitation or rainfall, and so 
much sunshine, the answer is that, when it rains, it often " pours." Sometimes seven iuches 
of rainfall occur in a few hours. Pour or five inches per day are not infrequent. The sky 
seldom scowls in empty threats. , There are few of those lung-delayed promises of rain, that 
frequently delude and disappoint the agriculturist North and West. The sky is over- 
cast, the rain falls heavily, and the heavens are soon bright, with the breezes piping. We 
have none, or next to none, of those hot, close, steaming, mist3 or vapors, that curtain the air' 
m landscape-clouding, suffocating stillness, and that often produce rust in wheat so soon. 

I have thus given some views of climate, of which climatological statistics give little, or no 
apprehension to the. average man. "Mean annual temperature," "monthly maximums and 
mininmms," "dew point," "relative humidity," and the vocabulary of signal service reports, 
mean little to him. The climatologist, men of science, deduce from the dry facts of those, 
much that I have said. But the average man desires, needs to have, the outcome of them, 
and what they mean, portrayed. That I have attempted. 

But we know how the other class would complain (and justly), if we did not give the highest 
data ; so, we furnish tabulations, particularizing somewhat, where Capt. Kerkam has general- 
ized in broad deductions. By tins treatment, we aim to satisfy all, and satisfy the more 
curious inquiry of the scientist or critic. 



The following table is from tlie report of the Chief Signal Officer, 
War Department; appendix 10 ; page 82 ct seq, for 1885 ; part-first : 

Mean temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) at stations of the Signal Service, United 
States Army, for each month and the year. (Computed from November. 1879, 
to December, 1884, both inclusive, except at stations opened subsequent to the 
former date). 

[The daily means are obtained by dividing the sum of ihe 7 a. ui., 3 and 11 p. in, (Wash- 
ington time) observations by 3; the monthly, by dividing the sum of the daily by the 
number of days in the month.] 





















$ 




£ 


J3 




Stations. 


t-' 

a 




S 
3 


< 


c? 


ce 

a ■ 
P 

1-3 


"p 

1-5 


So 


ft 

w 


.a 

o 

O 


1 

> 

o 


i 
a 

p 


cs 

P 
P 
P 
< 


Now England : 


o 


o 


o 


o 


o 


O 


O 


o 


o 





o 


b 


o 


Eastport, Me 


19.8 


23 . 2 


27.9 


37.8 


47.1 


56.2 


60.5 


61.1 


56.5 


40.7 


30.1 


25.7 


41.0 


Portland. Me •.... 


24.2128.7 


34.0 


44.7 


51.1 


65.0 


69.6 


68.6 


62.3 


51.0 


39.6130. 1 


47.8 


Mount Washington, Is 1 . If 




9.6 


20.1 


34.2 


44.3 46.7 


47.2 


42.0 


30.2 


17.2 LI. 3 


20 . 5 


Boston, Mass 


26.430.133.943.6 


55.3 


65.8 69.9 68.8163.5 


51.7 


i i. ii 1] . i 


18.4 


Block Island, B. I 


30.133.3 35.942.8 


51.9 62.4(68.5 


68. 1 64.7 


55.3 


44.936.1 


4!). 6 


j\ru Haven, Conn 


26 530.634.545.2 


57.3 


66.970.? 


69.5 


63.0 


53.0 


40.831.149.3 


New London. Conn 


28.832. U35.9 45.3 56.4 


63.7i70.3 


69.3 


65.1 


54.3 


42.333.549.9 


Middle Atlantic States: 


















Albany, N. V 


25.030.034.8 


47. 8 


61.2 


70.1 73.2 


71.9 


65.9 


53.0 


40.430.450.4 


New York City 


i. 6|36.7 


47.0 


, 


68.372.6 


71.6 


07.5 


50.2 


43.234.4 


51.6 


Philadelphia, Pa 


31.737.1 


40. -J 


49.9 


62.6 


71.5 75.1 


73.7 


00. 3 


57.7 


41. (i 30.1 


54.1 


Atlantic City, N. J 


32.435.7 


38.6 


46.7 


57 . 8 


66.»|72.6 


71.6 


68.8 


58.5 


44.5 30.8 




Barnegat City, N.J 


31.9IS5.1 


38.3 


46.0 


:.7. 2 


66.5 


72.2 


71.1 


68. ( 


57.7 


44.236:4 


52.5 


Cape May, N. J 


34.8 


39.1 


41.4 


48.it 


60.0 


68.5 


74.1 


72.9 


70.1 


60.8 


48.0 39.4 


54.7 


Sandy Hook. ST. J 


30.8 


34.1 


37.fi 


47.1 


59.5 


68.8 


74. t 


72.8 


69 . i 


57.9 


45.0 35.8 


52.7 


Delaware Breakwater, Del 


32.1 


38.640.4 


48.1 


59.7 


68.2 


72.2 


72.4 


69.! 


00. s 


47.5 38.2 


54.0 


Baltimore, Md 


34.4 


39.742.5 


52. (j 


65.3 


73. ( 


76.9 


74.7 


70.2 59.0 


46.0 38. 3 56.1 


Washington City 


32.1 


38.5 41.2 


51.7 


64.9 


73. t 


76.2 


74.? 


70.2|fi9.< 


44.736. 555. J 


Cape Henry, Va 


39.9|45.0!46 4 


54. C 


65.2 


73.3 


77.3 


76.1 


73.4 04. f 


52. 2,44. 50.2 


Chincoteague, Va 


33. S 


39.2 


.41.4 


49.4 


|60.2 


69.5 


74.4 


73.1 


70.5 


161.3 


47. il 


.38.9 


,55.0 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 



53 



Mean temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) at station* of the Signal Service, United 
/States Army, for each month and theyear, <$c- — Continued. 





















£ 












>. 


}J 












■ 


-= 


u 


£2 


Jjj 


* 


Stations. 


5 

1-5 


oj 


5 


S. 


C6 


i 


*7> 


«? 

a 
ho 


E 

Pi 





z 







71 

3 
9 

a 




& 


3 


< 


<. 


•-» 


n> 


< 


W 


6 


'A 


=1 




< 


Middle A thiol ic SI ates - ( Ion! ill lied : 


O 











O 























Lynchburg, Va 


17 . 5 


13.8 


16.1 


55 . 9 


08.0 


74.8 


,".-..i 


76.0 


71.1 


01.1 


10. 7 


to. 1 


48.2 


Norfolk, Va 


40.7 


46.6 


48.0 


55. 


>7.6 


75.2 




70.7 


73.1 


63.7 


51.2 


14.6.60.1 


Soutli Atlantic States : 


























Charlotte, N C 


U . 5 


18.3 






69.0 


76.1 


79.4 


70.7 


71.863.3 


S>.{ 


13.860.6 


Hatteras, X. C 


4:t. 'J 


48.8 


50.0 


55 . 2 




74.2 


78.2 


77.4 


7:,.:; 07.0 


-0.2 




Kitty Hawk, N. C 


42.2 


46.7 


47.7. 


53.6 


14.8 


73.5 


78.2 


72.:; 


74.065.5 


53.6 


10.4 00 1 


Macon, Fort, X. C 


13. f 




51.4 


-.7.1 






78.8 


77.7 




;, .6 




18.4 02.-! 


Siuil h villc. X. (' 


47.:: 




53.9 




70.2 


77.0 


so. 7 


78.8 


74.8 




4.6 


49.4 03.7 










il.2 


70.1 


76. 


79.9 


78.2 


74.6 


07.1! 


55 . 1 


50.2 04.1 


Charleston, S. C 


51.6 


50.3 




14.3 


72. S 


79.5 


S2.S 


J0. 6 


76.9 




.7 . 6 


53 1 00.9 


Augusta, i la 


ts . 8 






••4.1 


72.4 


7s. 7 


31.9 


79.5 


75.6 


OS. 2 


54. 8 


5ii.2 05.5 


Savannah, < i;i 


53.1 


57.6 




00.7 


73.ii 


80.3 




30.5 






58.6 


54.0 07.9 


Jacksonville, Fla 


'.7.4 


61.4 


54.2 




74.9 




82.9 


31.0 


77.7 


72.0 




58.470.2 


Florida Peninsula: 


























Cedar Keys, Fla 


58.2 


62.3 


04 . 5 


70.:. 


70.0 


B0. 7 


32.7 


31.7 


79.0 


74.1 




59.7 71.1 


Key West, Fla 


71.873.1 


72.!' 


77.2 


80.0 


S3. 7 


35 . 3 




82.7 


79. 1 


75.4 


71.9J78.2 


Sati ford. Fla 


55.6 




08.4 


70.8 


75.5 




82.4 


80.4 


78.1! 


74. S 


17.1 


14.071.6 


Easterntrulf States : 


























A tlanta, Ga 


44.1 


50.0 


53.0 


01.0 


69.1 


75.4 


7S.5 


75. s 


72.0 flo.l 


51.2 


[o.i in .7 




54 1 


58.4 
57,1 


51.2 


07.9 
68.0 


73.9 

74.4 


79.7 
80.7 


81.0 
81.1 


SO. 4 


77.2 
77.:; 


71.9 
71.4 


59. 1 
58.8 


55.4 OS 4 


Mobile, Ala 


52.3 


53.4 os.o 


Montgomery, Ala 


19.5 


55.1 


58.4 


65 . 5 


72 . 9 


79.1 


31.3 


79.6 


70.0 


09.7 


55 . 3 


50.0 0,0.0 


Vicksburg, Miss 


10. 


54.9 


59.4 


00.4 


73.1 


70.9 


81. S 




75.4 


68.9 


55.3 


: 1.8.66.2 


New Orleans. La 


56.9 


60.5 




70.0 




31. i 




2.0 


78.9 


73.2 


01.4 


57.4 70.2 


"Western Gulf states: 


























Shreveport, La 


16.8 


52.1 






73.6 






SI. 7 


75.3 


68.4 


54.4 




Fort Smith, Ark 


32.0 


10. s 


.Mi. 7 


59.4 




70.8 




7t;. 7 


72.5 O' .5 


51.3 


40 1 59.5 


Little Rock, Ark 


42.:. 


48.0 


54.1 


02 . . 




77.9 


80.0 


78.6 




51.5 


i5.:;o2.;; 








04.0 


69:9 


76.3 


82.4 


84.0 


83.4 


80.1 74.7 


12.2 




Indianola, Tex 


53.0 




64.7 


70.8 


70.4 


32.0 




82.3 


79.4l74.fi 


12.3 


57.270.2 


Palestine, Tex 


42.0 


54.0 


60.8 


85. 2 


70.0 






79.6 


75. SOS. 7 


50.7 


49 7 05.0 


Rio Grande Valley ■ 
























Brownsville, Tex- • 


58.6 


(12.9 


68 . R 


74.1 


78.fi 






32.2 


79.4 75.5 


;:.. 1 




Rio < Irande 1 'it \ . Tex 


57.6 


04.4 


09.7 


76.2 


- 






83.1 


S2.5 74.S 


13.6 


00.2 


73.1 


Ohio Valley and Tennessee : 


























( lhattanooga, Tenn 


41.9 


48.0 


51.5 


60.0 


68.2 


75.0 


77.0 


75.9 


71.1 63.8 




45.0 


00.4 


Knoxville, Tenn 




15.4 


18.4 


57.0 


00.9 


73.2 




71.4 


70.2i;2.l 


47.0 




58.2 


Memphis, Tenn 


40.8 


17.0 


52.1 


02.0 


70. G 


78.0 




78.9 


72.0 


0.5.2 


50.1 




61.7 


Nashville, Tenn .. 


39.0 


15.8 


49.7 


50.0 


69.2 


70.2 


78.2 


77.4 


71.5 


01. 1 


18.fi 


41.6 


00.0 


Louisvillle, Ky 


35.7 


42.1 


45.1 


56.0 


B6.9 


74.0 


77.1 


70.0 


70.1 


60.9 


16.6 




57.4 


Indianapolis, Ind 


29. £ 


35.5 


40.1 


51.9 


04.0 


72.5 




"4. 1 


07.0 


57 . 1 1 


U.5 


2.2.1 




( !incinnati, ( thin 


34.8 


41.0 


44.2 


54.:: 




73.8 


77.0 


75.6 


70. 1 




15.3 






Columbus, Ohio 


29. E 


35.8 


39.1 


50.0 


62.8 


70.8 


74.1 


72.5 


07.4 


50.2 


41.2 


3:1.2 


52.0 


Pittsburg, Va 


31.7 


36.4 


38.6 




63.1 


70.0 


72.8 


71.9 


07.0 


57.0 


12.5 


34.8 


52.1 


Lower Lakes : 




























Buffalo, X. V 


24. ( 


20. i; 


29.4 


40.1 






68.1 






51.5 






46.5 


i Iswego, X". V 


25.7 


158.9 


31.6 


41.9 






68.6 


63.5 




39. 1 




17. t 


Rooheater, X. V 


24.3 


27.3 




42.1 


5 :.:' 


04.0 0-i.s 


69. ( 


05.1 




57.0 




17.5 


Brie, Pa 


27.4 


30.7 


33.1 


43. ( 




00.3 70.:; 


09.7 




54.5 


40.9 




19.2 


< leveland, ( lliio 


25.! 


30.7 


33.3 


44.2 






To. 1 


09.4 


05.2 








49.0 


Sandusky, Ohio 


•J7.4 


32.1 


35.1 










71.4 




55.0 


40. ( 






Toledo, Ohio 




32.1 




in.: 


00.4 






71.4 






10.8 


31.8 




Detroit. Mich 


25.8 


31. ( 


34.0 


45. t 




67.8 


71.2 


70.; 






40.0 






Upper Lakes j 




























Alpena, Mich • 


18.1 


19.0 


21.1 


36.1 


40.2 




64.3 


04. ( 


58. ( 




2.2.2 




11.2 


Escanaba, Mioh 


14.1 


16.! 


22. < 35.7 


50.1 






01. 1 






30.7 


21.1 


to.5 


Gland Haven. M ieh 




27.9 


31.8 13.2 


50. ( 


04.: 




67.7 




51.6 




29.1 


47.2 


Mackinaw City, Mich 


11.- 




20.236.5 






61. ( 




57.8 


18.5 






40.0 


Marquette, Mich 


16. E 










63.8 


02.2 


56.! 


40.0 




22 . '. 
20.: 




Port Huron, Mich 


2 1 . : 




29.1 


40.1 


53. i 


62.8 


07.0 


07.: 








( Ihicago, 111 

Milwaukee, Wis 


24.7 




34.8 


45.2 


57.1 


05.1 


70.8 


71.1 








IS.S 


20.4 


25.8 


31.1 


12.: 


54.2 


02.1 


67.8 


68.1 


01.0,51.5 




25.1 


45.5 


Dulnth, Minn 


10. ( 




24.2 




48.3 


58.1 




64.1 


50.4:45.7 


28.3 


14.9 


38.1 


Upper Mississippi Valley: 
























Saint Paul, Minn.... 


12.4 


18.4 






07. ( 


69.! 






31.1 




43.9 


La Crosse, Wis 


16.1 


22.7 








71.5 




02.7 51.4 


34.2 






Davenport, Iowa 






35.4 49. E 


02. < 








0,5.5 54.5 


29.1 






I >es Moines, Iowa 




25.8 


34.349.1 


00.9 


69.5 


72.7 




02.9 52.7 


30.4 






Dubuque* Iowa 


19.0 


25.0'33.0|47.8 






72.0 


71.1 




25. 8 


24. 2 


17. S 


Keokuk. Iowa 


24.5 


30.6.37.6 51.8 


63.5 


71.8 


70.0 






39.! 




51.8 


Cairo, 111 


35.9 


142.5 


47.i 


58.8 


68.1 






':;'.' 


70.7 




47.4 


39.1 





54 



SOME LATE WORDS 



Mean temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) at stations of the Signal Service, United 
States Army, for each month and the year, if-e. — Continued. 



Stations. 



Upper Mississippi Valley- -Cont'd : 

Springfield, 111 

Saint Louis, Mo 

Missouri Valley : 

Leavenworth, Kans 

Omaha, Nebr 

Bennett, Fort, Dak 

Huron, Dak 

Yankton, Dak 

Kactremo Northwest : 

Moorhead, Minn 

Saint Vincent, Minn 

Bismarck, Dak 

Buford Fort, Dak 

Hortheru Slope : 

Assinaboine Fort, Mont 

Benton Fort, Mont 

Custer, Fort, Mont 

Helena, Mont 

Majrinnis, Fort, Mont 

Poplar River, Mont 

Shaw, Fort, Mont 

Dead wood, Dak 

Chevenne, Wyo 

North Platte, Nebr 

Middle Slope: 

Denver, Colo 

Pike's Peak, Colo 

West Las Animas, Colo 

Dodge City, Kans 

Elliott, Fort, Tex 

Southern Slope 

Sill, Fort, Ind. T 

Concho. Fort, Tex 

Davis, Fort, Tex 

Stockton, Fort, Tex 

Southern Plateau : 

Santa Fe, N. Mex 

El Paso, Tex. 

Apache, Fort, Ariz 

Grant, Fort, Ariz 

Prescott, Ariz 

Thomas Camp, Ariz 

Yuma, Ariz 

Middle Plateau : 

Winneiuucca, Nev 

Salt Lake City, Utah 

Northern Plateau : 

Boise City, Idaho 

Lewiston. Idaho 

Dayton, Wash 

Spokane Falls, Wash 

Borth Pacific Coast: 

Oanby, Fort, Wash 

Olyuipia, Wash , 

Tatoosh Island, Wash , 

Portland, ( >reg 

Kosenburg, Oreg 

Middle Pacific Coast: 

Cape Mendocino, Cal 

Red Bluff, Cal , 

Sacramento, Cal - 

San Francisco, Cal , 

South Pacilic Coast: 

Los Angeles, Cal 

San Diego, Cal 

Alaska Stat ions : t. 

Saint Michael's, Fort, Alaska. 

Sitka, Alaska 

TTnaiaska, Alaska 

Behriug's Island, Bearing Sea. 



27.8 
29.7 

27.0 
20.5 
10.4 
9.8 
15.9 

2.7 
6.8 
5.4 

5.1 

10.5 
16.0 
17.4 
15.0 
17.4 
2.2 
17.3 
21.4 
•24.9 
21.0 

;to.3 

1.8 
21.9 

27.4 
31.7 

36.9 
42.8 
42.4 
43.1 

27 
13.4 

33.8 
42.1 
34. 

40.1 
52. 8 

28.9 

27.9 

28.5 
31.6 

30.9 
23.7 



34.140.0 
36.0 42.1 

32.0 41.0 
25.234.7 
16.2|28.4 
14.427.7 
18.8129.4 

5.6 16.8 
1,512.7 

10.9 21.2 
10.2 22.1 



13.4 28. 
19.4 33. 



20.4 
19.7 
13.6 
4.5 
19.7 
22.3 
25.3132 
24.135 



29.5 
3.4 

26.9 

30 

35.5 



53.0 

54.9 

53.7 
40.7 
43.0 

43.6 

44. S 

37.8 
33.5 
38.5 
39.2 

41.4 
41. S 
44.0 
41.4 
37.6 
38.6 
30.5 
38.0 
S9.8 
46.8 



63.871.5 
65.2 73.3 



64.3 
62.5 

56.5 



75.3 

77.0 



74.0 
76.1 



07.1 
70.1 



56.7 

?9.0 



41.8 31.7 
44.0,34.1 



53.0 
55.1 



73.5 
72.1 
68.2 



76.7 75.2 67. S 56.4 
9 65.2J53.5 



52.866.3 
59.7 6.9.7 

». 364. 8 
51.262.1 
55.265.3 
53.764.3 



70. S 
68.3 
72.4 



71.860.140.3 
68.6 5B. 046. 8 

72.3 61.8:49 



41.2 30.5153.3 

17.0 23.7 40.5 

1.343.6 

.8 41.8 
32.5 19.045.6 



66.406.2 55. 4'42. 6 



63.463.4 
67.867.7 
66.5166.7 



52.4,39.6 
55.8 43.0 
53.7 41.4 



5 66.2'65. 
5,70.070. 

4 61.5)63. 

7 04.0(16. 
7 63.2 63. 
,4 62.965. 

.7 (',:.. 7 114. 
,8172.5171. 



53. 2 1 
55.5 
57.0 
56.0 
51.5 
:>4.4 

52.4 
53.4 
55.5 

62.0 



40.9 

41.8 
45. 



47.2 55.4 66.9 72.3 70.5 
13. 21.8 33.6 39. 7i38. 1 



41.8 50 
48.3 56.9 
47.8 53.7 

48.5 56. 



55.5 

62.2 
64.0 

59.2 
.5 



1 02 



31.6 38.6 

48,9 55.4 
37.4 43.5 
44.350.0 
36.0 1 ■' 
46.8 53 
56.3:62 



46.6 
03.0 
49.4 

49.1 
59.5 
68.3 



30.0 38.9 46.2 
29.7 40.0 47.9 



30.6 
30.4 
29.1 
24.2 



42.6 38.2 
37.8 36.9 
41.536.6 
39.3 38.0 
39.8 39.8 



46.6 
45.3 

45.3 

40.:; 

52.0 
52.8 

5.3 

37.0 
31.3 
25.7 



44.6 

47.0 
47.7 
49.7 

53.1 



41.5 

43.2 
42.4 
38.6 

44.0 

43.3 

45 

4IJ.0 



49.0 
50 . 8 
4S 
47.4 

50.5 
48.0 

49.2 

51 . 1 



45.9i50.5 

48.64' 

53.757.9 

53.4 56.8 

52.5 53.9 



54 . 7 
55.] 



61.6 

63.1 

69. I 

71.2 

67.0 

0.5 

55 . 4 

71.5 

56 

65.8 

5 

68.4 

76.3 

53.4 
57.1 

57.2 
58.6 

55.9 
55.7 



9 

73.2 
3.2 



5.1 72.1 
76.273.9 
76.0 74.0 



78.4 81.1 
9.9 si. 7 
74.9175 7 
70.1 80.2 



79 

79.1 

71.0 

76.8 



65.068.0 64 

80.8 81.8 78 

67.071.969.0 

76.177.373.4 

86.4 71.4 69 1 
78.9183.2-80.1 
84. 5,91. 4.90.1 

63.5171.769.2 

68.5 74.4 74 



66.972.1 
66.9[72.8 
63.0 67.4 

63.8 67.9 



53.4 55.2 58.6 
53.1 58.461.1 
50.9j53.3 55.8 
56.6 61.7 64.8 
56.0 61.365.5 



51.0 
06.8 
63.4 
57.0 



57.6 61.8 
57.861.4 



1.610.819.0 
32.737.042.7 
33.833.0,35.0 

28. 8^26. 829. 6 



33.2 
46.6 



54.6 53.8 
74.9 82.3 
67.971.9 

57. 9 1 58. 8 



65.6 

64.5 



68 
66.9 



71.1 
72.1 
66. 
67.3 

60. 

61.5 

56.4 

64.2 

63.8 

5b. 

79.3 

70 

58.1 

69.6 

08 



46.2 53. 
51.2 53.8J55.8 
45.850.450.4 

42.2l47.4l51. 



23.6 
19.3 

24.9 



9.736.6 
4.533.2 
10.0139.0 

8.0 38.1 



40.5 28. 

41.8 30. 

45.2,31. 
42.220. 



42.7 
40.0 
43.2 
43.5 
49.6 



62.050.1 
30.7 20.5 

65 . 4 52 . 5 

07.0 54.6 
67.957.4 

72.9 62.6 
9 64.8 

06.1 60.5 
1.0 63.2 

58.0148.5 
71.262.1 
62.153.7 
0.080:7 
62.1 51.7 

7 59.5148.0 
82.9)69.9 59.7 



5 16, 
:-; 19. 
5 18. 

9 20 

5 2. 

7 21 
2 21 

A 27 

8 23 



36.5B1.7 
10. 6.7 

36.9 20.9 
38.0 ».l 
41.033.8 

46.8 37.7 
."1.2 40.1 
48.945.5 
50.446.3 



35.0 
49.5 
40.3 
49.7 
40.9 



30.2 
45.8 
36.5 
45.1 
37.6 
43.3 
55.4 



58.7 44.9 33.0 32.4 
63.2149.6 36.1 33.6 

58.6'47.036.6'31.8 
59.7 49.0 
8.248. 1 37.4 30.8 
5j.7 47.1 35.9 27.6 

57.6 51.8 42.125. 
55.648.!) 13.239.3 
52.9)49. ! 46. 130.4 
58.9 52.9'44.4 ! 4D.l 
59.0 50.143.141.5 

57.2 53.3 51.3:49.0 



72.260.253.7 

88.) 69.1 51.1 

59.2 57.4 54.2 



46.6 
46.1 
51. % 



67.561.8-57.454.5 
66.3 61.5157.2 55. C 



43.5J31. 3119.0 

a 

7 

47.2l38.l!30.4 



51.9p45.142. 

47.042.034. 



4.4 
36.2 

32.0 

27 



10.3 
42.6 
43.6 
42.6 
38.8 
5*5.3 
41.2 
H.2 
13. 5 
47.4 

4 

18.9 

.49.2 
52.2 
54.6 

60.2 
63.1 
59.2 
62.2 

46.8 
62.5 
51.7 
59.3 
51.5 
61.4 
0.8 

48.6 
50.3 

49.4 

50.4 
48.2 
46.2 

9 

48.9 
47.8 
51.4 
31.5 

51.2 

(11.6 

58.5 

5.0 

60.4 
60.1 

26.7 
43.9 
40.6 
35.7 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 



55 



The following, owing to want of space, is a selected table. It is given from the standpoint 
of winter, mainly ; so as to show the climate particularly at that season: 

MONTHLY AVERAGE OF CLOUDINESS AND HUMIDITY FROM NOVEMBER, 1879, 
TO NOVEMBER, 1884. 



Boston 

New Haven 

Albany, N. Y 

Kcw V (irk City 

Philadelphia 

Baltimore, Md , 

Wash ington City 

Jacksonville, Fla 

San lord, Fla 

Galveston, Tex , 

Brownsville, Tex , 

Chattanooga, Tenn.... 

Knoxville, Tenn 

Nashville, Tenn 

Louisville, Ky 

Indianapolis, Ind 

Cincinnati, 

Columbus, 

Pittsburg. Pa 

Buffalo. N. Y 

Rochester, N. Y 

Cleveland, O 

Toledo. O , 

Detroit, Mich 

Grand Haven, Mich.... 

Chicago, HI i 

Milwaukee, Wis 

Duluth, Minn 

St. Paul, Minn , 

La Crosse, Wis , 

Davenport, Iowa. 

Des Moines, Iowa 

Dubuque, Iowa , 

Keokuk, Iowa , 

Cairo, 111 

Springfield, 111 

Sr. Louis, Mo 

Leavenworth, Kan...., 

Omaha, Neb 

Fort Assiuaboine, M. T 

New Orleans, La 

Los Ingeles, Cal , 

San 1 liego, Cal 

San Francisco, Cal , 

San Antonio, Texas*.., 
From September, 1872 

to and including Octo 

ber, 1879. 
New Orleans, for same 

period 



CLOUDINESS. 



5.4 
5.4 
5.9 
5.8 
5.6 
5.6 
6.0 
4.7 
4.5 
5.5 
5.8 
6.3 
6.4 
7.5 
6.3 
6.3 
64 
7.0 
7.1 
7.7 
7.9 
7.4 
7.0 
7.0 
7.9 
5.7 
6.0 
5.1 
4.9 
4.8 
5.5 
4.8 
4.7 
5.6 
6.1 
5.7 
5.4 
5.0 
5.0 
5.4 
5.3 
3.1 
4.1 
4.7 



4.9 
5.0 
5.6 
5.1 
5.3 
5.3 
5.6 
4.6 
3.7 
5.4 
5.6 
5.9 
5.7 
6.1 
6.0 
5.9 
6.1 
C.5 
6.6 
6.5 
6.9 
6.5 
6.4 
6.1 
6.5 
5.5 
58 
5.5 
4.9 
4.8 
5.5 
5.0 
5.4 
4.9 
5.7 
5.2 
5.4 
5.0 
4.9 
4.8 
5.0 
4.0 
4.4 
4.7 



5.5 
7.5 
6.1 
5.4 
5.5 
5.4 
5.5 
3.9 
4.0 
5.2 
5.5 
5.3 
5.3 
5.7 
5.9 
6.2 
5.9 
6.5 
6.5 
6.3 
6.7 
6.6 
6.4 
6.3 
6.1 
5.8 
6.0 
4.9 
5.2 
5.3 
5.7 
5.4 
5.9 
5.5 
5.4 
5.5 
5.4 
5.1 
5.4 
4.8 
4.9 
4.5 
4.8 
4.6 



5.5 
5.4 
7.1 
5.7 
5.9 
5.3 
5.7 
4.6 
3.7 
5.4 
5.8 
5.9 
5.4 
6.3 
6.3 
6.4 
6.5 
7.2 
7.1 
8.2 
8.4 
7.6 
7.3 
6.9 
8.1 
6.0 
6.3 
5.8 
5.1 
5.4 
6.1 
6.0 
6.2 
5.8 
6.3 
6.3 
6.0 
5.3 
5.2 
4.9 
5.5 
3.2 
4.5 
4.6 



£% 
<« 



5.3 
5.3 
6.2 
5.5 
5.6 
5.4 
5.7 
4.4 
4.0 
5.4 
5.7 
5.8 
5.7 
6.1 
61 
6.2 
6.2 
6.8 
6.8 
7.2 
7.5 
7,2 
6.8 
6.8 
7.1 
5.7 
6.0 
5.3 
5.1 
5.7 
5.7 
5.3 
5.5 
5.4 
5.9 
5.7 
5.5 
5.1 
5.1 
5.0 
5.2 
3.4 
4.4 
4.6 



HUMIDITY. 



71.9 
73.3 
69.2 
77.4 
76.4 
71.0 
78.5 
76.6 
78.2 
82.5 
82.0 
74.7 
79.4 
77.6 
74.1 
73.0 
74.6 
74.4 
78.2 
80.6 
79.6 
80.0 
76.2 
77.4 
80.4 
73.1 
79.3 
77.2 
71.1 
72.0 
65.8 
68.5 
66.1 
74.9 
77.5 
71.3 
76.9 
70.7 
71.1 
6,->.0 
73.4 
62.7 
65.6 
75 6 
69.9 



.1 71.0 66.9 



72.7 
73 1 
68.3 
77.3 
72.7 
67.0 
72.3 
71.8 
75.0 
80.6 
81.1 
67.7 
70.2 
71.5 
68.2 
71.3 
70.7 
71.1 
73.4 
78.6 
78.8 
77.0 
73.4 
76.8 
80.5 
70.0 
78.1 
73.8 
71.5 
70.0 
60.7 
68.3 
60.5 
71.5 
73.2 
68.9 
70.2 
67.6 
69.7 
07.0 
71.1 
65.0 
68.5 
73.5 
62.8 



^ 



71.0 
68.1 
63.0 
71.8 
69.5 
63.3 
68.5 
65.5 
72.9 
78.3 
80.6 
63.7 
66.4 
68.1 
63.6 
65.6 
64.7 
65.7 
68.8 
73.9 
70.7 
73.0 
68.5 
73.3 
77.1 
68.9 
75.6 
71. G 
68.9 
69.4 
64.7 
67.3 
65.5 
69.1 
67.1 
64.8 
72.4 
63.6 
67.1 
66.7 
68.9 
72.5 
74.8 
73.6 
62.0 



71.5 
75.6 
71.8 
7G.8 
74.9 
68.4 
75.2 
76.0 
77.8 
79.6 
82.9 
72.2 
76.2 
75.7 
71.4 
74.4 
72.4 
74.6 
77.7 
78.2 
80.6 
80.0 
75.8 
77.2 
80.9 
74.8 
79.6 
78.9 
72.7 
72.1 
72.1 
71.4 
68.5 
73.4 
74.9 
70.8 
76.7 
71.6 
71.1 
62.3 
73.1 
67.1 
69.6 
79.9 
69.2 



Ma 

£3 



72.0 

72.5 
68.7 
75.8 
71.1 
67.4 
73.6 
72.3 
70.0 
S0.2 
81.6 
69.6 
73.5 
73.2 
69.3 
71.7 
71.5 
71.4 
74.5 
78.3 
78.9 
78.0 
73.5 
76.2 
79.9 
71.7 
28.1 
75.1 
71.5 
70.9 
67.3 
68.9 
60.6 
72.7 
73.2 
68.9 
75.5 
68.2 
09.7 
65.4 
71.6 
66.8 
69.6 
75.6 
65.5 



7 72.0 69.9 70.1 



3 



71.3 
72.1 
646 
72.8 
72.3 
66.1 
7L3 
73.4 
76.7 
77.0 
79J 
71.1 
71.9 
71.1 
69.8 
68.0 
67.T 
67.7 
70.0 
74.7 
72.6 
71.9 
70.1 
71.1 
75.6 
70.8 
75.0 
74.2 
70.9 
68.3 
67.5 
69.5 
00.9 
70.2 
72.4 
67.7 
73.0 
66.8 
68.7 
60.0 
7L9 
08.2 
71.9 
76.8 
69.2 



* San Antonio is not given in the above table of humidity. 

[The table embracing the above points is found on the table concerning Shreveport, found 
elsewhere.] 



The following is kindly furnished by Capt. Kerkam: 

" THE CLIMATE OF NORTH LOUISIANA. 

"There are few, if any States, in the Union, that possesses a milder or mere genial climate 
than Louisiana. This has been demonstrated repeatedly within the past yearoy a compila- 
tion and publication of statistics covering all sections of the United States and" the greater 
portion of Europe, in the interest of the immigration movement to this State. Of North 
Louisiana but little more can or need be said than has already been placed on record. The 



56 



SOME LATE WORDS 



only difference between the climate of the northern and southern sections of the State, is a 
slight increase in the range of temperature as we leave the Gulf coast, and atmosphere less 
humid, and a rainfall averaging about four inches less annually. Prior to the establishment 
of the Louisiana Weather Service, we had no complete records for the various parishes, so 
that in making a comparison of temperatures, etc., with Northern States, the year of 1888 will 
alone be considered. 

Table showing the temperatures, percentage of sunshine, average number of rainy 
days, average annual rainfall, and dates of first killing frosts in North 
Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Miehigau, for the year 1888. 
(Compiled from statistics obtained from the Directors of the various State 
weather services.) 



SECTION 

OR 
STATE. 



North Louisiana. 

Tennessee, 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Michigan 

Minnesota 



TEMPERATURE. 
DEGREES— PAHR'T. 



+3 




-a 


D 






W 


1-1 


102 


13 


104 


2 


102 


-15 


106 


—19 


96 


—27 


101 


—36 


100 


—54 



89 
102 
117 
125 
123 
137 
154 

























R 


1 








>, 








o 


a 


3 








a 








A 


M 








S 


o 


05 




=3 










^4 


m 


o 


e« 




=S 


«4H 
O 




O 


is 



a 


o 
p 
111 










+3 


a 


fed 


Ma 


be 






cs p 


c3 














U 


► 


> 


> 


<D 


Ph 


«« 


< 


< 


O 


48' 


94 


48.68 


T 


T 


50 


101 


48.29 


4 


11 


48 
51 
45 


125 
101 
124 
107 


39.64 
41.77 
36.75 
28.68 
















39 




90 


27.18 











5 



November 11th. 
September 13th. 
September 3rd. 
August 23rd. 
September 1st. 

August 9th. 



From the foregoing table it will be seen that, during the past year, the range of tempera- 
ture for North Louisiana was but 98 degrees against 102 degrees for Tennessee, 117° for Ohio, 
125° for Indiana, 123° for Iowa, 137° for Michigan, and 154° for Minnesota. 

The lowest temperature, 13°, was reported from Fannerville, La.; the remaining stations in 
North Louisiana reporting minimum temperatures from 15 to 21°. Supposing 1888 to have 
been nearly an average year for the States mentioned in the table, where are the conditions 
to equal them ? Surely not where the killing frosts of fall occur as early as August and Sep- 
tember, or where the average number of rainy days exceed those of North Louisiana by from 
10 to 30, or where the temperature falls to " <■< i and eveii 54° below that point. If we have the 
moisture in the air accredited to as, why is U that scientific observations fail to bear it out, 
and that the record for North Louisiana as regards humidity is but one per cent below that 
for the extreme Northwest, and less than tha f recorded for Tennessee, Northern Georgia pud 
the majority of the States in which sign il stations have been in operation for the past 
dighteen years \ 

The average rainfall for 1888, as shown in the table, was 48.88 inches, less than half an inch 
more than for Tennessee. This amount of rain fell on !)4 days, or an average of about half 
an inch of rain every four days. Is this too much to keep crops in good condition ? "We had 
between three and four inches of rainfall in January and February, about six: inches in March, 
over two inches in April, and between four and five inches in May. five inches in Juno, nearly 
three inches in July, oetween six ami seven inches in August, about an inch m September, 
between two and three inches in October, two and a quarter inches in November, and between 
four and five inches in December \ the general average rainfall being four inches per month, 
which is, as a rule, evenly distributed. R. E. Kerkam, 

Signal Corps Director." 



If my article were not so long. I would give a table to show the rainfall or precipitation in 
those localities where a man says that lie can stand 105° or L10°, Fahrenheit, iu summer, 
better than in Louisiana. !Hi ; the country where rain, sometimes, falling never reaches the 
earth, because the thirsty air drinks it- where fruits, vegetables, flowers are not (except by 
irrigation) ; win-re "the Held eludes the tiller's toil" (if the latter be fool enough to try agri- 
culture) ; where the mirage is the phantom of water; where drought blights even hope. But 
I simply rest on the fact of our rainfall, and a small table 1 , which certainly is an admirably 
compiled one, by way of illustration : 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 



57 



From a table prepared for th 


3 Daily States, by Capt. Kerkam, I extract these data: 






Temperature. 
Degrees Fahrenheit. 


Average precipi- 
tation — Inches 
and hundredths. 


1 .2 

a to . 

bra's 

£"3 "3 
<1 cc 


Mean r el a- 

tive hum'd'y 

Per cent. 




43 
CO 

ts 

A 


CO 

I 

O 

h3 


® So 

i-.S 

<1 


CD'S 

g o 

» a 

> 09 


S 

4^ 

a 


3 

p 
a 
a 
< 


C 

a 


"3 

i 
< 




100 
104 

99 
100 
105 

99 

95 
108 

96 
105 
106 

98 
104 

98 

97 


— 6 

—12 

—23 

—39 

—40 

3 

31 

28 

13 

—29 

22 

2 
15 
11 
15 


31 

35 
27 
16 
7 
41 
52 
54 
30 
3H 
34 
47 
56 
55 
56 


51 
56 
49 
44 
39 
52 
56 
60 
48 
49 
55 
62 
70 
70 
69 


10.66 

11.10 

6.69 

3.30 

1.95 

22.80 

13.39 

9.53 

1.99 

1.88 

7.57 

17.86 

10.30 

11.49 

13. 1$ 


43.69 
42.36 
37.10 
28.82 
20.10 
51.49 
23.82 
17.29 
14.14 
15.06 
38.76 
55.06 
57.06 
52.22 
56.50 


5.1 
5.2 
5.1 
5.0 
4.8 
6.0 
4.1 
3.4 
3.7 
3.8 
4.9 
5.0 
4.4 
4.6 
4.8 


73 

72 
74 
73 
77 
79 
75 
65 
53 
55 
71 
68 
73 
79 
71 


71 




66 




71 




70 




70 




72 


San Francisco 


75 
68 




44 




49 




68 




67 




73 




76 




72 



♦Rainfall record from 1836 to 1888. 

The above table is compiled from Signal Service records covering period from November 1, 
1880, to December, 1887, inclusive. 

The lower rainfall of New Orleans is established by the painstaking research of Capt. 
Kerkam, who has cone into investigations outside of published data. 

I now append some statements from the last United States census : 

Prof. Hilgard. in his article on Louisiana, in Vol. 5, Tenth Census, speaks thus of the 
climate of the State : 

" Owing to its nearness to the Gulf of Mexico, and the prevalence of winds from that direc- 
tion, the climate of Louisiana is much less extreme than that of the States lying further 
North— the summer heat being less oppressive, though more prolonged, and the winter's average 
temperature 52.8° at New Orleans, 45.4° at Shreveport, very mild, though liable at times to 
sudden and severe 'cold snaps. 1 brought on by northerly storms, which restrict the culture oi 
tropical fruits on a lar°:e scale to the immediate neighborhood of the Gulf coast. On such 
occasions the temperature may fall to 17°, even at New Orleans, and to 15° in Northern Louisi- 
ana. November, December and January are the coldest months, dune, July and August the 
hottest ; the temperature ranging from 74° to 98°, with a mean of HI 6 at New Orleans, while 
at Shreveport the range of temperature within the same months is from 64° to 95°, with a 
mean of abont 81°. 

"The rainfall at New Orleans amounts to nearly 73 inches annually;* at Shreveport. about 
47 only, but increases slightly toward the Mississippi Valley. At New Orleans the rainfall is 
most copious during the three hottest months, and somewhat less during the three coldest; 
during both, about 40 inches of rainfall is received, the rest of the annual precipitation being 
more or less distributed over the spring and autumn." 

The above statement requires modification, as the winter of 1885-6 (the coldost I can dis- 
cover), showed thus : for New Orleans, 15°; for Shreveport, 1°. This weather, for both loca- 
tions, was in Januarv, 1886, 

Thus I have given testimony from the three highest authorities possible : The United 
States Signal Service Reports, the United States Census, and the later researches of Capt. R. 
F. Kerkam, Director of the Signal Service of Louisiana. Outside of the testimony of Sacred 
Writ, where can more authoritative proofs be adduced in behalf of any fact, than are pro- 
duced here in attestation of the glorious verities of the climate of Louisiana ? If, after all the 
testimony here collated, doubters are still found, they are not amenable to conviction, and are 
wedded to unbelief. Tours truly, M. B. Hillyahd." 



We have dwelt with great particularity upon the climate of Louisiana. 
It is, perhaps, the most vital of all topics ; because even health itself, 
the dearest of all considerations to almost everyone, is dependent upon 
climate. Then, there is no State in the Union, whose climate is so 
utterly misjudged and underrated as that of Louisiana, and it is a duty, 
as well as a pleasure, to endeavor to disabuse the public mind, and to 
commend the loveliness of our climate, and to command for it public 
appreciation. Then, more .and more, the South (Florida and California, 

*Capt. Kerkam, by investigations of the most recondite character, reduces it to (6,50. 



58 



SOME LATE WORDS 



particularly), is filling up with climate-hunters : persons of wealth, cul- 
ture, impaired health, who bring immense benefits to the places where 
they settle. Louisiana desires such. She offers attractions that neither 
Florida nor California can surpass (if they or either can equal), and we 
beg such home-seekers to investigate the charms of Louisiana's climate 
before making homes elsewhere. 



THE PARISHES OF MUlSIflJlfl. 



EXTENT, CULTIVATION, POPULATION. 



PARISH. 



Ascension , 

Assumption , 

Avoyelles 

Baton Rouge, East. . 
Baton Rouge, West. 

Bienville 

Bossier , 

Caddo 

Calcasieu 

Caldwell 

Cameron , 

Carroll. East 

Carroll, West 

Catahoula , 

Claiborne , 

Concordia , 

DeSoto , 

Feliciana, East , 

Feliciana, West..... 

Franklin 

Grant 

Iberia , 

Iberville 

Jackson 

Jeffi rson , 

Lafayette 

Lafourche 

Livingston 

Lincoln , 

Madison . . . ; , 



o 

u 


CO to 


"3 
o 

9 « 


d 
o 

C9 


!i 


CD !Ti 


2 
P< 


< 


«l 


Ph 


373 


37,908 


16,896 


327 


30.511 


17,010 


843 


84.787 


16,747 


395 


40.0L'6 


19,986 


210 


20,75;; 


7,667 


856 


45,048 


10,442 


773 


69,420 


16,045 


852 


95,409 


26,305 


3,400 


14,003 


12,448 


535 


18,267 


5,770 


1,545 


5.743 


2,415 


400 


56,793 


12,147 


380 


10,071 


2,776 


1,350 


29.823 


10,28S 


765 


126,000 


18,857 


620 


45,816 


14.914 


856 


82,239 


15,605 


450 


53,118 


15,132 


302 


21,115 


12,809 


550 


22,104 


6,495 


578 


24,414 


6,188 


536 


49,604 


16,080 


646 


42.112 


17,600 


576 


26,604 


5,328 


395 


19,707 


12,106 


262 


62,704 


13,236 


1,024 


44,802 


19,113 


575 


10,467 


5,258 


485 


108,084 


11,075 


670 


48,395 


13,908 



PARISH. 



Morehouse 

Natchitoches... 

Orleans 

Ouachita 

Plaquemines ... 
Pointe Coupee. 

Ranides 

Red River 

Richland 

Sabine 

St. Bernard. . . . 

St. Charles 

St. Helena 

St. James 

St. John 

St. Landry 

St. Martin 

St. Mary 

St. Tammany.. 
Tangipahoa 

Tensas 

Terrebonne.... 

Union 

Vermilion 

Vernon 

Washington. .. 

Webster 

Winn 



Total 44,426 






760 

,200 
187 
640 
930 

575 
,498 

380 
57S 

,008 
680 
284 
413 
308 
190 

,270 
618 
648 
923 
790 
612 

,800 
880 

,226 

,540 
661 
594 
954 



57,3 
58,909 

4,436 
48,847 
36,908 
56,594 
76,149 
33,930 
31,409 
18,524 
11,850 
21,177 
28,285 
54,675 
29,213 
137,370 
39,876 
66,326 

3,895 
21,021 
78,679 
40,403 
62,661 
25,330 
16,303 
18,224 
42,402 
22,548 



2,507,935 



14,2(6 

19,722 

216,140 

14.723 

11.575 

17,799 

23,597 

8,573 

8,444 

7,344 

4,405 

7,161 

7,504 

14,714 

9,686 

40,002 

12,662 

19,891 

■ 6,887 

9,638 

17,824 

17,956 

13,526 

8,735 

5,160 

5,190 

10,005 

5,846 



940,103 



Acadia, lately dissevered from South Saint Landry parish, is not computed with reference 
to above statistics ; no authentic data being obtainable. 

We now proceed to give descriptions of various parishes, and endeavor 
to observe the classification of Professor Lockett, and therefore place 
the following in his oategory or area of " Good Uplands." 

The following is taken from a " pamphlet descriptive of the parishes 
in North Louisiana :" 

NORTH LOUISIANA. 

North Louisiana is rich in annals and reminiscences of Indian life and 
warfare, of hardships, privations and endurance of fortitude, and deeds 
of heroism and valor, of pioneer struggles, which, if written, would rival 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 59 



the thrilling tales of fiction, but as our task is to speak sober words of 
the present, we shall skip the romantic and glorious past. 

The inhabitants of North Louisiana are immigrants, or the offspring 
of immigrants, from Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North and 
South Carolina, and from other States in the Union, and are generally of 
English, Scotch and Irish descent. As a class, the people of North 
Louisiana are thrifty, enterprising and wide awake, and are noted for 
their hospitality. 

The parishes described in this pamphlet are situated in the nortwest 
portion of (lie, State, and are alphabetically arranged as follows: Bos- 
sier, Bienville, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchi- 
toches, Ouachita, Bed River, Sabine, Union and Webster. 

Shreveport and Monroe are the largest towns in this section. 

Few Suites in the Union possess a greater diversity of surface-soil or 
a milder and more genial climate. The lands are noted for (heir won- 
derful fertility, particularly the lands nearest the rivers, bayous and 
lakes, which are classed as. bottom and trout lands. The lands, called 
front lauds by planters, are moderately sandy and easily worked. The 
back lands, extending beyond streams to the hills, are generally stiff, 
sticky and more difficult to break up, but yield marvelous crops when 
cultivated intelligently. 

In North Louisiana the hill lands predominate, and are mostly tilled 
in fields ranging from forty acres and upwards. Throughout the uplands, 
though there are not a great many ever-running creeks, water is found 
in abundance for man and beast,, and of (he most desirable quality. 

people residing in 'the hills or uplands a illy ingoodcii 

stances, liy diversifying their crops, • and giving attention to slock, 
they are self-sustaining, prosperous and happy. 

The character of uplands soil is sandy, of a gray and reddish cast, 
with a clay subsoil. These lands are fertile, and yield astonishing re- 
turns when assisted with manures and fertilizers. If the same care and 
the same amount of labor devoted by farmers in the Eastern and West- 
ern £ i their acres, were bestowed on these lands, they would 
equal, if not exceed the products of the low and bottom hinds, which 
are cultivated at a greater expense, and held at higher prices. The 
lands on the streams comprise thousands of acres, which are divided 
into large plantations, and devoted to raising cotton, chiefly by negro 
labor. As a rule, the river planters depend uppn St. Louis and other 
markets for their supply ot corn and bacon. Lands of this kind are 
worth from $10 to $50 according to the improvements, and immunity 
from overflow. , 

The price of the hill or inl uids ranges from $1' to $5 per acre, and 
r, with expensive improvements. 

There are thousands of acres of government land which can be en- 
tered by complying with the homestead law, at from $1 25 to $2 50 per 
acre. 

The railroads, also, have large tracks of very desirable and fertile 
lands, which c.in be bought at $>2 pi • acre and upwards. 

The product- - are cotton, corn, tobacco, sor- 

ghum. • , ye, and millet for forage. The 

vari. munerative crops. 

us small fruits grow in great per- 
ia< b -I h marvelous success. Early 

are raised with very little trouble and with 
profit. 

The staple product of the c ton, which commands a ready 

sale at all seasons of the year when placed on the market. But the 
people are gradually diversifying their acreage, especially in th« hills. 



60 SOME LATE WORDS 

Before and during the gre.it struggle between the States, the majority of 
planters and fanners had flour and wheat of their own raising. There 
being no mills at hand now, wheat is only cultivated to a limited extent. 
A flour mill has been projected for Shreveport, and is now under favor- 
able consideration. 

In the hill counties in eastern and northern Texas, adjacent to Caddo 
parish, which are not superior in fertily to ours, wheat, rye and other 
small grain yield abundant returns. The same results can be obtained 
in this section, and only require the presence of increased white popu- 
lation to instill new life into this industry. 

Nature has been beneficent, and done wonders for North Louisiana, 
but her magnificent resources, still dormant, await further development. 
Instances could be cited where hill lands in Caddo and adjacent parishes 
have been made to produce from 80 to 135 bushels of corn to the acre, 
and have yielded from three-fourths to a bale of 500 pounds lint cotton, 
worth from $40 to $45 a bale. 

Within the past five years, particular attention has been given to 
blooded stock, and there are a number of fine herds of Jersey, Holstein 
and short-horn cattle in this section that will compare favorably with 
the best herds in many of the Western States. Pedigreed horses, mules, 
hogs and high bred poultry have not escaped attention, and the possi- 
bilities of the future in this department are assured by the encouraging 
and gratifying success attained. 

The saw mill industry is yielding a large income of wealth to those 
engaged in it, and it is yet in its infancy. The vast forests of short and 
long leaf pines, covering millions of acres in the virgin state, are await- 
ing the investment of capital. 

The timber throughout North Louisiana is diversified, according to 
location, but it may be said to comprise the varieties known as hickory, 
red, white, black and post oaks, ash, walnut, cypress, beech, sweetgum, 
cotton wood, hackberry, sasafrass, persimmon, holly and the beautiful 
magnolia, always attractive and admired, nearly all of which are adapted 
to manufacturing purposes. 

The rivers, lakes and bayous abound in fish of many varieties, such as 
perch, trout, buffalo, cat, etc. 

The free public school system is not yet all that cotild be desired, but 
is rapidly improving and will receive a new impetus from increased 
population. The fund from this source affords free schools for five 
months in the year in the country, and for eight months in Shreveport. 
This fund is usually eked out by private means, and thus very fine 
school facilities are afforded. 

The spires of churches of all denominations rear their' heads toward 
heaven, and in this land of promise, if not of milk and honey, unlimited 
liberty and tolerance are assured in the observance of religious faith. 

This section, of which Shreveport is the commercial metropolis, has 
railroad connections with all points in the United States, Canada and 
Mexico. 

This is unquestionably an inviting section of country, and when its 
advantages in soil, climate and health are considered impartially, it is 
almost impossible to speak too strongly in their praise. 

Immigrants will receive a hearty welcome and kind treatment from 
the citizens of North Louisiana. 

CADDO PARISH. 

That fair section of Louisiana, Caddo parish — next to Orleans, the 
wealthiest parish in the State — may certainly claim much in its especial 
favor, and it is with pleasure that we write of its advantages and re- 
sources. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 61 



Caddo parish is situated in the extreme northwestern corner of the 
State, with fifty-eight miles of western boundary on Texas, and less than 
fourteen miles northern boundary on the Arkansas Stale line. Its 
natural eastern boundary is Red River, which, in its meandering*, gives 
Caddo parish a magnificent river frontage of 183 miles. It is bounded 
on the south by DeSoto and Red River parishes and Wallace lake, a 
distance of forty-four miles. 

Though crossed and penetrated by many bayous as large as Red river, 
and an unusually large lake through the center, it represents a landed 
surface of 560,000 acres, of which 106,200 acres are in cultivation, and 
453,800 acres are uncultivated. This surface is more varied than can be 
found anywhere in the same limits, including the fertility of the bottom 
lands, pine hills with fine clay subsoil, the less hilly section of hard 
woods with a black soil of usual producing qualities, the sandy soils for 
fruits, vegetables, melons and potatoes, a considerable prairie strip, 
which by many is considered the garden spot of the section, and last, 
the marshy belt adjacent to the river, lakes and bayous, making every 
character except mountainous and hard pan soils. The alluvial lands 
constitute nearly one-half of the acreage. 

Good titles are guaranteed all purchasers of land and real estate. 

Having heard so much of North Louisiana and Caddo parish, the 
reader will naturally desire to know more of this country. As he may 
be unprepared to come at present, let him then imagine that he is on a 
tour of inspection through the parish in company with a friend. They 
have started from Shreveport, and see, as they journey northward along 
Red river, plantations ranging from 100 to 500 acres and over, under 
fence. Cotton is the principal crop cultivated on these broad acres, 
which rival the great prairies of Illinois in fertility of soil. Now, let it 
be remembered that cotton is to the planters and farmers in this section 
and the South, what wheat is to the farmers in the Western States. It 
is the main crop upon which money is realized ; it is the cash staple 
always in demand at market quotations. 

The plantations and large farms on the streams are so especially 
adapted to the cultivation ot cotton, that the planters, with few excep- 
tions, insist that it is cheaper to raise cotton and buy corn than to divide 
their acreage between a mixed crop. The average yield, on alluvial and 
river land, is from three-fourths to a bale of lint cotton to the acre, and 
a greater yield is obtained in propitious seasons. These lands are mostly 
cultivated by negroes, to whom they are rented for a stipulated share of 
the crop, or for an annual rental in money. 

Along the river banks, and running back to the hills, are thousands 
of acres of wooded 'lands, which some day will be brought into a high 
state ot cultivation. The lands are very fertile, and can be purchased at 
from $10 to $50 per acre. As we skirt Red river the scenery, although 
not as majestic, romantic or attractive as along the Hudson, is not devoid 
of interest. There are picturesque landscapes whidh are very pleasing 
to the eye. 

We have now reached'the Arkansas and Texas line, and turn towards 
the uplands. As we move southward, we travel through a country with 
a rich, 6andy, loamy soil, abundantly watered, and timbered with the 
various kinds of forest trees mentioned in the article on North Louisiana. 
Instead of large plantations, we now see small farms ranging from 40 to 
160 acres. The upland country is not thickly settled, and there is room 
for thousands of families who can obtain good lands at reasonable prices. 
Good springs are common and numerous, and the best of water is ob- 
tained by digging wells, ranging 25 to 75 feet in depth. In the hill or 
upland section of the parish, there are not nearly so many negroes as on 
the plantations along the streams, and they are rapidly drifting to the 



62 SOME LATE WORDS 



low lands. The lull or uplands are settled by enterprising, intelligent 
Or industrious people from many States. The population is representa- 
tive, and somewhat cosmopolitan in character, and very hospitable. J* 

In the northern section of the parish are from 15,000 to 20,000 acres of 
government lands subject to entry under the homestead law. Some of 
these lands are well situated, heavily timbered and very desirable. 
There are other lands unoccupied, which belong to private corporations, 
and may be obtained on ms. 

The Caddo prairie country, the first section settled in this parish, was 
a garden spot, until the formation of; the great raft in Red river, which 
impeded navigation and submerged these lands in the spring months, 
rendei i unfit for cultivation. The raft was removed in 1873 by 

Lieutenant Woodruff, an engineer in the United States army, who died 
in the fall of that year. Since then a large area of these lands has been 
reclaimed, which are now in a high state of cultivation, and yi< Id readily 
one bale of cotton, and from 50 to 100 bushels of corn to the acre. The 
Caddo prairie is about three miles wide and' fifteen in length. In the 
past few years, great improvements* have been made in opening up new 
farms. In this section there are State lands in the bottom and low 
places. The best locations have been taken and the remainder is 
worthless, except for the timber. Such lands can lie bought for 75 cents 
per acre, but ar kind desired by immigr 

As we leave Caddo Prairie, Ave continue our journey through the, hills. 
There is no great variation in the soil, and the general appearance of 
the country is alike. We need not speak of the water courses which we 
have crossed, ami which abound in trout, perch and other variti 
fish, nor is it necessary to devote time to >\<'vv, turkey, ducks and other 
jame met at various points. Having traveled an almost circuitous 
route, we find ourselves at the southern limits of fhe uplands in this 
parish and turn towards Red river. As we ascend this stream, coming 
in the direction of Shreveport, we travel through a country similar to 
that bordering the river above the city. These lands are all very line 
and good producers. We are now in Shreveport and will sit down and 
chat a little. 

li What is your impression, and what do you think of the country ? " 

"Very favorable," is your answer. It could not be otherwise; in 
fact, there is no better country for men with limited means, for men of 
industrious and economical habits. 

" What will these hill or uplands produce? " 

"The uplands, when manured or assisted by fertilizers, will yield 
from 30 to 00 bushels of corn to the acre; on old land, without fertili- 
zers, the average yield is about 15 bushels. A bale of cotton to three or 
four acres is perhaps a fair average, but with fertilizers the yield may 
be increased to a half and three-quarters of a bale, and by an intensive 
system of farming to two bales to the acre. 

" The uplands are also adapted to the growth of tobacco, oats, wheat, 
rye, peas, beans, Irish and sweet potatoes, sorghum and all kinds of 
vegetables. It is a fact that sweet potatoes yield from 150 to 300 bush- 
els to the acre, selling at from 50 to 75 cents per bushel. Irish potatoes 
are very prolific, ranging from 100 to 200 bushels and over to the acre, 
worth from 50 to 75 cents per bushel, according to the time of the year. 
Apples, peaches, pears and nearly all the fruits of the Northern States, 
are raised in this parish with profit. The various grasses yield 
abundantly, and when gathered for hay and forage add to the revenues 
of the farm. 

w Farmers in the hills or uplands, are prosperous and happy. They 
diversify their orops — but not to the extent they should do — which in 
most instances, they cultivate or superintend in pertoa. Being self- 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 63 



reliant. Ihey are generally in good financial circumstances. All the 
white men engaged in agricultural pursuits are as robust and healthy as 

any class of farmers in the North and Northwest. The industrious 
white man can, by practicing the same rules of economy observed in the 
North, soon accumulate a fair income, which may be increased by judi 
cious handling or investment. Hundreds of white men. farming in this 
parish— many being from the North — will willingly verify the state 
ments." 

It may appear strange, but it is nevertheless true, that over half of the 
cotton raised in the South is cultivated by white labor. A white man 
can till his acres in the midsummer without detriment to health. It is a 
very rare occurrence when a person is afflicted with sunstroke. The 
heal of a summer's day is geiierally tempered by a pleasant breeze and 
refreshing airs, which combine to cool the earth, tone and invigorate the 
growing plants, as well as the human system. Thesummers in this 
tion are not enervating and debilitating, and there is not that sultriness 
that prevails in the North and Northwest during the heated period. In 
this section the. white man is pit pared for active work at dawn, feeling 
invigorated after a peaceful night's repose. 

There is no greater error than that which prevails with regard to the 
health of white men doing outdoor work in Louisiana, and especially in 
this section of the State. There are hundreds and thousands of people 
everywhere in this State, who have worked continuously in the held, for 
years, without injury to their health. 

Among the hill farmers, especially, there is a strong tendency towards 
mixed husbandry, and particular attention is being given to tine stock 
and dairy products. This industry is yet in its infancy, but growing 
rapidly. 

The country is well adapted to stock raising and dairying, ami con- 
tains all the elements necessary to make these a grand success. Hogs 
and sheep are profitable, and need very little attention. 

Appreciating the value of good stock, a number of public spirited 
citizens, a few years since imported cattle and blooded horses and other 
stock. The success attained has been surprisingly gratifying. The 
cattle comprise the Jersey, Durham and Holstein breeds, and were se- 
emed at a cost of thousands of dollars from the most reliable breeders in 
the United States. At the annual exhibition of the North Louisiana 
Fair Association, in the fall of 1886 and 1887, there was in the area as 
tine a lot of blooded cattle, horses and other stock as were ever seen 
anywhere in this country. Native raised mules compared favorably in 
size and general appearance with the products of Missouri, Kentucky and 
Texas. 

As an item of interest it may be said that in the Shreveport market, 
from one thousand to twelve hundred mules are sold annually at prices 
ranging from $30 to $175 per head. Within a radius of fifty miles, 
planters pay annually from $130,000 to $160,000 for mules also. The 
farmers, recognizing their mistake in the past, are now gradually work- 
ing out a remedy by giving time to the rearing of stock of. every 
description. The possibilities in this industry are unbounded and offer 
a wide field for improvement and money making. This is a grand sec- 
tion, and there are good openings for the thrifty and industrious classes. 

SHREVEPORT. 

The city of Shreveport, the county seat of Caddo parish, is situated 
on the west bank of Red river, 540 miles above its mouth. It is the 
metropolis of North Louisiana, the second largest, busiest and most 
populous city in the State. 

Shreveport is the natural emporium for all the vast section of country 



64 



SOME LATE WORDS 



in Eastern Texas, Southwestern Arkansas, North Louisiana and all the 
upper and a portion of the lower Red river valley; a scope of country 
whose fertility yields a wealth of agricultural products whose value is 
unequaled in any State of the Union. From its inception, Shreveport, 
owing to its natural advantages, lias been regarded, and justly, too, an 
important commercial railroad center, and is growing steadily. 

METEOROLOGICAL DATA 

of Shreveport, La., as deduced from 17 years of observations from offi- 
cial records. 



Meau temperature 

Maximum temperature 

Minimum temperature 

Mean relative humidity 

Mean cloudiness 

Average number of clear days.. . . 

Average number of fait days 

Average number of cloudy days... 
Average number of rainy days.. . . 

Average rainfall 

Prevailing wind 



45.1; 

78 

1.3 

T.i.5 

5.8 

8.61 

10.1 

12.3 

11.8 

4.98 



15 

71). 
5.5 
8.1 
lo.i 
10.1 
10.4 
4.74 



58.5 
90 

26 
liti. 9 
5.0 
9.7 
11.7 
10.7 
tO. 2 
4.07 



65.9 

93 
32 

07.1 



73.7 
101 
47 
69.9170.6 



80.5 
104 



4.9 4.5 
10.2 

12.2 

7.0 

9.9 
5. OS 

S 



10.1 

14.4 
6.6 
8.2 



4.5 
9.4 
16.0 
4.6 
9 



4.80,3.48 
S S 



83.0 
10 
64 

72.1 
4.0 

12.1 



< 

82.0 
105 
58 
70.5 
3.5 
13.7 
14.6,14.6 
4.3 
10.0 6.4 
3.90:2.05 
S SE 



«3 

75.3 
101 
47 

71.8 
3.7 

14.6 
9.9 
5.6 
8. 

4.39 
SE 



65.3 

95 

31 

72.8 

3.7 
15.1 
10.4 

5.4 

6.9 
3 . 68 

SE 



ft 

54.4 

86 

18 

72.1 

4.5 
11.3 
10.2 

8.5 

8.8 
4.84 

S 



48.8 

79 

10 

73.3 

5.4 
10.1 

9.4 
11.6 
10.6 
5.18 

S 



65.3 
107 
1.3 

70.7 
4.6 

11.1 

12.0 
7.4 
9.2 

5239 
S 



BOSSIER PARISH. 

The parish of Bossier was created by Act of the Legislature of Feb- 
ruary 12, 1843, hitherto being that part of the parish of Claiborne par- 
ticularly described in the act of incorporation. It remained intact, as 
originally incorporated, until 1871, when a part of her territory was cut 
off and given to Webster parish. 

Bossier parish lies in the extreme northwestern part of the State, 
fronting Red river on the west for about seventy-five miles, and only 
separated from Texas by the parish of Caddo. On the north it is 
bounded by the State of Arkansas. In area it contains 753 square 
miles. Oak uplands, or what is commonly known as the " hills," in 
contradistiction to the alluvial lauds, 553 square miles, of which about 
80 square miles are '' red lands," and the remaining 220 square miles 
are alluvial lands. 

"The course of empire takes its way," so these lands have been 
chiefly settled up by people from the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and 
Mississippi. According to the census of 1880, the population was a 
little over 16,000. It now numbers more than 20,000. 

The parish is traversed from east to west by the Vicksburg, Shreve- 
port and Pacific railroad, and from north to south, from the Arkansas 
line to Shreveport, by the St. Louis and Arkansas Southern railroad, 
thus affording easy access to the markets of the North and East by two 
competing lines. 

An almost unbroken line of levees pi'otects the river lands from Benton 
to Reel River parish. In consequence of these levees, and the removal 
of the raft, the channel of the river has been widened and scoured out 
by the increased velocity of the current, and the possibility of the re- 
currence of the overflows of 1S66 and 1807 happily reduced to the 
minimum. 

Bossier is conspicuously a cotton parish ; her soil and climate being 
peculiarly adapted to its growth. Here the cottonwood — the true index 
of the cotton belt, — springs up with the rapidity, and fights for life with 
the tenacity, of the "old field pines" of Carolina and Georgia. 

The alluvial lands average about seven miles in width, and are equal 
to the best lands in this or any other country. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 65 



The hills— (hat is .-ill lands other than the alluvial lands, and a term 
often misleading strangers, — are rich and productive, and timbered with 
exuberant abundance; tbe.v produce grains and grasses of all kinds. 
The common, rich with native grasses and marked with frequent water 
courses, offer splendid and Inexhaustible pastuies to those who may feel 
disposed to engage in stock raising. Our climate is mild and healthful, 
and so far, we have escaped the storms and droughts that have wrought 
such destruction among our less fortunate fellow citizens in other 
States. 

Bossier is a, parish of exceptional prominence as an agricultural 
country, and ranks fairly as a timber and cattle country. Nothing is 
raised luit cotton and corn in the bottoms, but the hill farmer raises a 
diversified crop for home consumption. The timber of the parish is 
largely oak, pine, cyptvss. walnut and gum, with all the other smaller 
growths intermixed. The hill country, in which the whites predominate, 
has school houses and churches in abundance, while the colored people 
of the Point section and the river country are also taking great interest 
in both. 

The principal towns in the parish are Bellevue, Haughton, Midway, 
Rocky Mount, Red Land and Collinsburg. 

Home-seekers are assured a hearty and cordial welcome in Bossier, 
where land can be purchased at low figures and on reasonable terms. 

DESOTO PARISH. 

This parish is situated in the northwestern part of Louisiana, 30 and 
32° north latitude, and L6 and 18° west longitude. It extends from Red 
river, on the east, to the Sabine, on the west, containing 910 square 
miles, with a population of 17,000. 

Mansfield, its capital, very nearly in the centre, is forty miles south of 
Shreveportj is one of the most driving and wide-awake towns in the 
State, and a railway centre of importance ; about 300 miles north of New 
Orleans and 200 miles northeast of Houston, Texas. 

DeSoto parish is in direct communication with these trade centres by 
two navigable streams and by two lines of railway. The New Orleans 
and Shrevepoit division of the Texas and Pacific runs on the divide be- 
tween the Red and Sabine rivers, through the centre of the parish, 
twenty-six miles. The Houston. Texas and Shrevepoit runs through 
the northern part of the parish twenty miles. The all important ques- 
tion of transportation is abundant, and in all respects satisfactory. 

The town of Grand Cane is a place of considerable local importance, 
and has a good country to back it. 

I.ogansport, on the Shrevepoit and Houston, near the Texas line, is 
doing a good business. 

DeSoto is what is called in Louisiana a hill parish, in contradis- 
tinction to the alluvial, prairie, and long leaf-pine region ; that is 
the lands are rolling and wooded. The soil is light, sandy loam, 
with a clay foundation, well timbered with every variety of oaks, 
hickory, pine, ash, beech, gum, etc.: universally well watered, 
either by springs or wells from twenty to forty feet deep. The 
drainage of surface water into Red liver, on the east, and the Sabine 
river on the west is perfect, leaving no swamps, ponds or marshes to 
produce malaria. Timber-is abundant for all purposes. Good lumber 
can be had at the mills for $7 50 per thousand; cypress or heart pine 
shingles at the stump for $3 f>0 per thousand. The lands are easy of 
cultivation, producing when fresh, one-half bale of cotton, twenty-five 
bushels of corn or oats, and one hundred bushels of potatoes per acre. 
Al'tei being worn by long and rough usage, it responds readily To 
manures. It is generally conceded that one dollars worth of commer- 



66 SOME LATE WORDS 

3 > 

cial fertilizer applied to an acre, is sufficient to restore all worn lands to 
their original fertility. Better still, all worn lands set to bermuda grass 
and Lespedeza clover will not only furnish first-class pasturage for 
eight months, but will restore the land at the rate of 25 per cent per 
annum. No lands in the same degree of latitude can be better adap- 
ted to fruits and vegetables than the well drained, sandy loam of this 
seetion. Land is valued at from $2 to $10 an acre, according to situa- 
tion, the quality being about the same. Proximity to towns, depots, 
schools and churches establishes the price. 

DeSoto offers great inducements to the agricultural classes of immi- 
grants of moderate means and industrious habits, with her cheap lands. 
A fertile soil, adapted to a wonderful variety of field crops, fruits and 
vegetables ; an abundance of timber, water and pasturage. Having a 
population of less than twenty souls to the square mile, there is ample 
room for thousands to come Jand occupy the waste places. Those who 
have large means, and wish to pursue the all-cotton or all-sugar plan, 
had better seek the alluvial lands. But for homes, with all the comforts 
of life, as a reward to industry, DeSoto yields to no section in the 
South. 

This section was settled, principally, in the fifties, by planters from 
South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, who abandoned the worn lands 
of the older States, to occupy the virgin soil of Northern Louisiana. 
They were almost universally persons of means, education and refine- 
ment. Schools and churches were established as soon as neighborhoods 
were formed. A first-class college was established at Mansfield by the 
Methodists; another in the western part of the parish, at Keachi, by the 
Baptists. Both institutions are still in a flourishing condition, with over 
400 pupils in attendance. The descendants of such a people, though 
impoverished by the late civil war, are naturally Christianized, law- 
abiding, civil, hospitable and refined. Through all adversity, they have 
clung with wonderful tenacity to education, and religion. The interest 
divided from the sale of every sixteenth of a section of land, and the 
whole of the poll tax are devoted to public school purposes. Owing to 
the sparcity of population, the amount so derived is inadquate, but suffi- 
cient to furnish free tuition for three months each year. By private 
subscription, added to public funds, a large number of schools are open 
for the full term. 

In the southeastern part of the parish, embracing a scope of territory 
perhaps ten miles square, are the Dalett hills. These hills are too 
broken for successful cultivation, except in small tracts, but are covered 
with splendid pine timber, a fine native grass for grazing, and, accord- 
ing to late geological examination, rich in coal and iron. The Texas 
and Pacific Railroad company have been, for some time past, prospect- 
ing'and examining the coal in this region, aud report favorable results. 

In the southeastern part of the parish the growth is principally pine, 
of the short-leaf variety, offering great inducements to lumbermen. 
These lands are level, and well adapted to cultivation, after being de- 
nuded of the native growth. The native grasses furnish an excellent 
range for stock in this region. 

The swamp lands bordering the Sabine river are celebrated for the 
great abundance of white oak timber suitable for staves, and red cypress, 
the best wood in the world for shingles. The supply is almost inex- 
haustible, and the demand cannot be supplied. But this region is neces- 
sarily unhealthy, which denies the settler the comforts of a happy 
home. * 

A warm welcome is extended to all honest, industrious persons who 
may wish to make homes in DeSoto. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 67 



CLAIBORNE PARISH. 

The parish of Claiborne, as originally incorporated in 1828, and named 
Claiborne in honor of Louisiana's first Governor, comprised within its 
then boundaries enough territory to make a State of dimensions th.at 
Rhode Island, at least, would have respected. 

Such were the attractions and advantages of the original Claiborne 
parish. However, immigrants swarmed into its territory, and the in- 
crease iu population made necessary its subdivision into smaller parishes. 
So that now, lands originally lying in Claiborne are embraced within 
the bounds of the parishes, of Bossier, Jackson, Bienville, Webster and 
Lincoln, and the Claiborne of to-day is reduced to an area of 778 square 
miles, or 447,920 acres, hounded on the north by the State of Arkansas, 
on the east by Union and Lincoln parishes, on the south by Bienville 
and Lincoln, and on the west )>y Webster. 

But though it has given of its territory to the formation of new 
parishes. Claiborne Still holds within its borders many broad and fertile 
acres, and in diversity of natural resources, may still justly claim to bo 
the banner hill parish of Louisiana. 

The paiish records show for the year 1887 an assessed valuation of 

Lands * $834,245 

Town Lots 68,080 

Total realty $902,325 

Live Stock $279,555 

Other personalty 213,485— 493,040 

Grand total $1,395,365 

The rate of parish taxation in 1887 was 9 mills on the dollar. This 
will be reduced to 7 mills in 1888, and will show a reduction of 3 mills 
iu the last three years; yet, within those three years the parish has 
bought and paid for a Poor Farm $400 — and has erected a jail at a cash 
outlay of $6,000. There is not a dollar of parish debt outstanding, and 
the Treasurer's reports show a balance of about $7000 in the parish 
treasury. In Louisiana the members of the parish police juries are 
appointed by the Governor from the body of the parish, and have con- 
trol of the fiscal matters of their respective parishes. 

A gray surface soil, underlaid by a yellow or reddish subsoil, prevails 
throughout the parish. Along the creeks and branches the lands are, of 
course, richer, and show larger yields per acre, but even the poorest up- 
lands are so happily adapted to fertilization that, the intelligent and in- 
dustrious farmer can usually make as much as he can gather. 

Cotton and corn are the chief products, but other crops are profitably 
grown. The following figures, obtained from VV. J. Mercer, parish- 
assessor, show approximately the field" crop yield of the parish in 1887: 

Cotton, 41,000 acres, yield in bales, 22,500. 

Corn, 45,000 acres, yield in bushels. 572,327. 

Oats, 7500 acres, yield in bushels, 72,:U0. 

Ribbon cane, 130 acres, yield in barrels molasses, 450, 

Sorghum, 250 acres, yield in barrels molasses, 1000. 

Sweet potatoes, 800 acres, yield in bushels, 97,347. 

The average yield of cotton per acre is about one-half to three-quar- 
ters of a bale, and of corn, 20 to 25 bushels. Exceptional cases have 
been recorded, however, "where the yield has been much larger. 

For example, iu the year 1887, Mr. G. W. Alexander, of this parish, 
was awarded the premium at the Shreveport Fair for the best acres oi 
corn, his being 129 bushels and 48 pounds. Another Claiborne farmer 
made 2218 pounds of seed cotton on one acre of hill land, and still an- 



SOME LATE WORDS 



other, with one mule, made 14 bales of cotton, averaging 418 pounds to 
the bale, 240 bushels of coin. 40 bushels of sweet potatoes, 20 of peanuts, 
62 gallons of sorghum and 1202 bundles of fodder— paying for help to 
make this crop only 610 50. 

These yields, as above stated, are exceptional, yet they serve to 
show what handsome rewards await the application of industry and in- 
telligence. 

Ribbon cane, on good land, with proper cultivation, will vield from 
500 to 000 gallons of molasses per acre, which readily sells at from 40 to 
50 cents per gallon. Sorghum, which is usually planted on poor lauds 
here, yields an average of 400 gallons to the acre, and sells at 25 cents 
per gallon. Potatoes, peas, and all vine crops, yield so abundantly 
that figures giving their actual vield seem fabulous. Wheat is grown to 
some extent, but chiefly as a forage crop, as there are no facilities here 
for grinding it. Oats (of the " Red Rust Proof" variety) yield an aver- 
age of 15 bushels to the acre. Rye and German millet, though not 
largely grown here, are said to do well. Fruit of all kinds is success- 
fully grown. 

All that has been needed to develop the fruit-growing industry of 
Claiborne has been a lack of facility for transportation. This obstacle 
to its successful pursuit bids fair to be removed in the early future. The 
Louisiana North and South railroad from Magnolia, Arkansas (crossing 
the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific railroad at Gibbs,) to Alexandria, 
La., has already been completed from Gibbs to Homer, the parish seat 
of Claiborne; and when completed to its northern terminus, will afford 
the people of Claiborne direct communication to St. Louis, Kansas 
City, Denver and other cities of the Northwest, and with New Orleans 
on the south. 

There are in the parish 10,000 acres of United States lands, and 6000 
acres of State lands. The fornn-r are well timbered, and are of course 
subject to entry upon the terms prescribed by the United States home- 
stead laws. The State lands are chiefly swamp lands, but are well 
timbered, and can be bought at 75 cents per acre, or entered under 
State homestead laws, similar in their provisions to the homestead laws 
of the United Stales. 

Experience has proven that mules and horses can be profitably raised 
here. Colts grow rapidly, and can be put to work when two and a half 
years old, and even at that age stand the climate better than Western 
mules five years of age. A gentleman near the centre of the parish, 
who lias been engaged in raising mules and horses for the past twelve 
years, says that the colts on his place have been uniformly free from 
disease, have grown rapidly, and have generally developed into larger 
animals than were their sires* and dams of Western blood, and have 
commanded belter prices in the home markets than can be obtained for 
animals from other States. He does not depend much on natural pas- 
turage, however, but on lands too poor lor other uses, he makes abund- 
ant crops of "speckled" field peas, which he feeds to his stock, and 
annually sows wheat to provide winter pasturage for them. He esti- 
mates the average COSl of rearing a colt to the age of two years, at 
thirty to forty dollars. Few experiments with blooded cattle have been 
made here, not enough, indeed, to form the basis of an intelligent 
opinion as to results. 

The timber supply of the parish is limited, but is ample to meet all 
local demands. The school and church facilities are excellent. At 
Homer, the parish seat, is located a college, giving instructions in. the 
higher branches, and empowered to confer diplomas. At Ha.ynesville, 
the second largest town in the parish, is the Normal Institute, and a 
l jigh school with able teachers. At Summerfield, New Athens, Lisbon,, 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 69 



Gordon, and indeed throughout the parish, a lively interest is shown in 
the cause of education. 

Being the highest portion of the State, abundantly supplied with pure 
water, "and traversed by no sluggish bayous, it follows that Claiborne is 
the most healthy section of the State. 

Indeed, diseases of a malarial character are unknown here. The 
general healthfulness of the people is bespoken by the blushing tint of 
the maiden's cheek, the stalwart specimens of young manhood, and the 
number of those who are still alert and active under a burden of years 
exceeding the allotted "three score and ten." 

To seekers of home in our Southland, no section offers greater and 
mqre varied attractions than "old Claiborne;" and those who come to 
dwell there, if acquainted with Indian lore, will no doubt think, as does 
this writer, that Alabama— " Here we rest"— would be a fitting name 
for the parish. 

The health, the homes, and the pockets of this people are open to 
worthy comers from all sections, but it would be hard to find less com- 
fortable quarters for the idle, vicious and adventurous, than Claiborne 
affords. 

SABINE PARISH. 

The parish of Sabine is bounded on the north by the parishes of De- 
Soto and Natchitoches, on the east by the parish of Natchitoches, on the 
south by the parish of Vernon, and on the west by the Sabine river. 

The population is now something over 10,000, being principally 
white, and there being about 1400 white voters to 400 colored. There 
■were but few large planters in Sabine previous to the war, the mass of 
the people being non-slave owners, and most families cultivating their 
own farms. As a consequence, the result of the war failed to bear so 
heavily upon them, and the returned soldiers had but to go to work 
witli a will, repairing and building up their places, and being used to 
honest labor, had no new order of things to which to adapt themselves. 
Taken all in all, Sabine can well claim to be one among the banner 
parishes of Louisiana. Her people are noted for their healthy appear- 
ance, their hospitality, and their moral, upright and industrious habits. 
They have always been in a thrifty and independent condition, making 
it. a rule to raise yearly an ample sufficiency of the home products for 
home consumption, and then plenty for market. The crops are diversi- 
fied. Cotton is the principal money-raising product, but then, corn, 
oats, peas, potatoes, sugar cane, sorghum and poultry are raised in 
abundance. Nor do the people lose sight of stock-raising. In fact, 
stock of every kind raised in the parish more than supplies the home 
demand. Cattle and hogs abound in every section, and are raised with 
but little trouble, and no expense to the owner, there being both a sum- 
mer and winter range for cattle, and the hogs grow perfectly fat in win- 
ter upon the mast, which seldom fails. It is the rule that every family 
owns the farm upon which they reside, and the corn-crib and smoke- 
house of every family is at their own home. There are no very wealthy 
people in Sabine, but a number of good and extensive farmers, a num- 
ber of solid merchants, and the people of every calling and following are 
out of debt, and have something ahead, and all are cheerful, happy and 
content. The parish is strictly prohibition; there being no license is- 
sued for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and no way to obtain uiem ex- 
cept from the hands of a regular physician for strictly medical purposes. 
The Farmers' Alliance is a very strong and powerful organization in the 
paiish, and adhering so closely to the real and original purposes of their 
■order, and being under the lead of wise, pure-minded, honest and up- 



70 SOME LATE WORDS 

right persons in every section, has been conducive of great benefits and 
untold good. 

The Texas and Pacific railroad passes a distance of some ten miles 
through the northern portion of the parish, and has one station, Sodus, 
a beautiful and thriving town near the northern boundary, and from 
that point, or from Eobeline or Marthaville, in the parish of Natchi- 
toches, any portion of Sabine is easy of access. It is also expected that 
the Kansas City, Gulf and Watkins railroad will pass directly through 
the parish, from north to south. Already the line has been surveyed 
through Fort Jesup and crossing the Texas and Pacific two miles west 
of Sod us. 

LANDS. 

There are several different kinds of land in Sabine, but those in culti- 
vation are what are generally termed uplands. Even the extreme up- 
lands, a light gray, sandy soil, produce well, and the hammock lands 
and the creek bottom lands are very fertile, yielding with proper culti 
vation all that can be well gathered. The parish is literally threaded 
with streams of pure water; some of considerable size and others 
smaller. The principal creeks running through the parish are : Bayous 
Toro, Negreet, Lamina, San Patricio, San Miguel and Bayou Cie, and 
all these have bottoms extending on each side from half a mile to a mil© 
wide. The smaller creeks generally have bottoms of strong, rich soil, 
easily cultivated, and affording farms of any size. There is no section 
where a living is made easier thau in Sabine, and there is no country 
more desirable when any person wishes to blend farming with stock 
raising. 

TIMBER. 

No parish in the State can surpass Sabine in her wealth of timber. 
All along the Sabine river is to be found hue cypress brakes, and a 
lucrative business is done annually by many rafting both cypress and 
pine down the Sabine river to Orange, in Texas. Beyond this, however, 
the immense interest of Sabine is yet entirely undeveloped. Her great- 
est wealth is to be found in her magnificent forests of both long and 
short-leaf pine, even the latter being of such a superior quality as to 
make it a little less valuable than the yellow or long-leaf pine. Capi- 
talists have already began to turn their attention to these lands. Large 
size tracts are already owned by gentlemen living in New Orleans, Cin- 
cinnati and New York. In the creek bottoms and on much of the up- 
lands is to be found hickory, white oak, red oak, beech, ash and cherry. 
To form a correct idea of* the timber interests of Sabine, one must neces- 
sarily pass over the parish. 

CHURCHES. 

The principal religious denominations in the parish are : The Bap- 
tist, Methodist and Catholic. It in iy be truthfully said of the people of 
Sabine that they are truly moral and religious people. Every neighbor- 
hood has its comfortable and substantial place of worship, and many of 
the church edifices would do credit to any country. Divine service on 
every Sabbath is within the reach of every locality. The various 
churches are supplied with worthy ministers, and are all well sustained. 

SCHOOLS. 

Under the management of an excellent school board, the public school 
system is workiug well. The parish is divided into school districts, and 
every district has a comfortable school house. Competent teachers are 
employed, and where the public fund is not sufficient to keep up a con- 
tinuous school, the deficiency is supplied by the patrons out of their pri- 
vate funds. The police jury has now very wisely made a levy of two 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 71 



mills on the dollar for school purposes alone, and this, with the poll 
tax, the sixteenth section interest, and the fund derived from the State, 
will enable every neighborhood to have a public school during the 
greater portion of the year. 

NATCHITOCHES PARISH. 

This parish is situated in Central Louisiana, in what is known as the 
cotton belt, and is noted for the richness of its alluvial lands, general 
healthiness, good water and educational facilities, freedom from over- 
flow, picturesque scenery and the numerous inducements it holds out to 
intending immigrants. 

Both by water and rail, this parish is placed in easy and rapid com- 
munication with New Orleans (about 250 southeast), and Shreveport 
{about 80 miles northwest). 

The rivers are numerous, viz: Red river, flowing in Mississippi, 
navigable by large steamboats; Cane river, partly navigable; Old river, 
bayous Pierre and Natchez. 

Some of the finest lands in the South are grouped round these streams, 
and they possess one single and striking advantage over most of the al- 
luvial hikd.s in the State, iii being perfectly free from overflow, and well 
drained. * 

The population of the parish is about 25,900, and the chief towns are 
Natchitoches, Robeline, Clouticrville, Campte, Provencal, Marthaville 
and Prudhomme. The educational facilities leave nothing to be desired, 
besides every district being provided with a school, the famous Stato 
Normal college, famous for its able staff of teachers and the great educa- 
tional advantages it offers, is situated on a breezy eminence on the out- 
skirts of the city of Natchitoches. 

In the towns and on the alluvial lands, cistern water is generally used; 
fine springs, however, many possessing valuable medicinal qualities are 
to be found. At Camp Salubrity, for instance, so named by the United 
States soldiers, who made it their headquarters before the war, on ac- 
count of its healthfulness, there are sulphur, iron and magnesia springs. 

Summer is long, but equable; hot spells, such as they experience in 
the North, being absolutely unknown. No case of sunstroke is recorded, 
find the seasons are free from blizzards, hail-storms and violent convul- 
sions of nature. The winters of 1885-1886, and 1887-1888 are generally 
considered the severest within the last quarter of a century. Snow fell 
to the depth of six inches. 

The, easy winters experienced here are one of the greatest attractions 
of this section. With care, grass can be obtaiued for stock all the year 
round. 

The epidemics, so common in the large Northern cities, seldom make 
their appearance here. Smallpox, typhoid and scarlet fevers are almost 
unknown, although isolated cases may have occurred in the parish. No 
record has been kept of them. Chills and fever in the spring and fall 
may lie contracted through exposure. They seldom assume a dangerous 
character, except, through the gross carelessness of the patient. 

Comparatively speaking, the parish may be said to be tree from dis- 
eases of a severe malarial character. 

The best soils for purposes of classification, may be subdivided as 
follows : 

Good uplands— Soil, sandy gray, or yellow loamy or red ferruginous. 
Subsoil, red clay. Small bottoms very fertile. Forest — Oaks, hickory, 
ash, beech, maple, dogwood, gums and short leaf yellow pine. Health — 

•This parish is thoroughly marked with the three classes of lands— "Good Uplands," "AUu- 
Tial" ami ■■Pine Hills," and is hardly properly placed in the division now uuder consideration; 
tut we dislike to dissociate it from its grouping in the pamphlet we are quoting. 



72 SOME LATE WORDS 

Water good. Products — Cotton, corn, potatoes, small grain, fruit and' 
stock. 

Pine hills — Thin soil, water good and abundant; good grazing; lumber, 
long leal" yellow pine. 

Alluvion — Black, dark-red, and reddish gray of great depth and of 
extraordinary fertility. Forest — Water and live oaks, gum, willow, 
cottonwood, elms, ash, etc. Cane brakes afford pasturage and shelter 
for stock all the year round. Common products, cotton, corn, tobacco, 
rice, etc. 

The following prices may be quoted in connection with these lands: 

Unimproved good upland and pine lands, $1 to $4 per acre ; improved, 
$3 to $10 per acre ; unimproved river lands, $4 to $10 per acre; im- 
proved, $8 to $25 per acre. 

Game abounds in this country, and excellent fishing is to be obtained 
in the river, lakes and bayous. Society is exceptionally refined, and 
churches of every denomination are generally to be found in the town, 
where pefect religious equality reigns. 

On this head we may quote from a letter of Bishop Galleher, 
(Episcopal) : 

" I am acquainted with the Natchitoches and Cane river country, and 
I know it to be healthful, productive and desirable. There is good land, 
good timber and good water there. The facilities offered by the Red 
river and the Texas and Pacific railroad make the country accessible, 
and confidently look forward to a large immigration to that section. 

" It has, in large measure, the settled features of good Christian civili- 
zation, and, at the same time, wide opportunity for settlers, who wish 
to make homes for themselves." 

The official report of the department of agriculture says of these 
lands- : 

Such varied and valuable resources in a climate so salubrious, can 
hardly be found any where else on the face of the earth. 

CROPS. 

Cotton — Alluvion — H to 2 bales per acre ; good upland i to 1 bale per 
acre. Note — 3 bales have been made by using fertilizers. 

Corn — Alluvion — 40 to 50 bushels per acre; good upland 40 to 50 
bushels per acre. Note — 100 bushels have been made by using fertilizers. 

TOBACCO. 

Tobacco of an excellent quality grows prolifically on the rich alluvion. 
It was formerly known in Europe as Nakatos Perique. 

GRASSES AND CLOVER. 

Bermuda grass indigenous, and mixed with vetch, burr clover and 
rescue grass, affords all the year round pasturage. Tall meadow oats, 
and orchard Guinea, or Johnson grass, thrive well. 

Red clover is also successful, while Japan clover, which chemists 
claim possesses more nutritious qualities than Kentucky blue grass, 
grows abundantly in the uplands, and affords admirable pasturage. 

STOCK. 

As a stock-raising, or dairy-farming region } this country claims and 
merits the highest distinction. 

UNION PARISH. 

With the exception of a small strip of alluvial land along the west 
bank of the Ouachita river, the parish of Union is composed wholly of 
oak uplands. Its area is 910 square miles, and its cultivated land 
amounts to 02,661 acres. There were produced, in 1880, *a total of 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 73 



11,692 bales of cotton on 28,308 acres of land, or an average of .41 of a 
bale per acre. 

The uplands are hilly or rolling, and there is a little prairie. There 
•are two chief varieties of upland soil, viz : Sandy loam, and red stiff 
land. The former comprehends fully three-fourths of the lands in the 
parish. Its timber growth is short-leaf pine, oak, hickory, dogwood, in 
the uplands; sweet gum, bay, mulberry, ash, etc., in the lowlands. The 
soil, to the depth of ten to twelve inches, is line, sandy, clay loam, of a 
yellow brown or mahogany tint. The subsoil is heavier, and frequently 
contains small, dull red, angular sand-stone gravel and rocks. The soil 
tills easily at all times, and is warm and early. The crops grown are 
corn, cotton, sweet potatoes, peas, small grain, sugar cane, tobacco, 
vegetables and all kinds of fruit. The two last, with cotton, seem to 
be the best adapted to the soil. Cotton forms about one-half of the 
crops planted; usual height of stalk, four feet. In rainy seasons, and 
on fresh lands, it sometimes runs to weed; this is remedied by topping. 
The seed-cotton product on fresh land is 1000 to 1500 pounds per acre, 
of which about 1350 pounds are needed for a 450-pound bale. The lint, 
when clean, rates in market as middling to fair middling. After 
five years' cultivation the product is 500 to 800 pounds, about 1460 
pounds being then needed for a 450-pound bale ; the staple is shorter 
and not so strong; will class as good ordinary or low middling. 

About 10 per cent of this upland is turned out for want of laborers ; 
when again taken up, it will yield from 750 to 1000 pounds of seed- 
cotton per acre. 

The red or "mulatto" lands occur most frequently in the south- 
western part of the parish, but more or less in all, forming about one- 
fifth of the land. 

The subsoil is red clay, containing flinty, white rounded gravel, un- 
derlaid by gravel or rock at three to ten feet. It tills easy in dry 
seasons, and with difficulty when wet; is rather cold, and late in the 
spring. It is apparently best adapted to corn and grain ; about half is 
planted in cotton ; the stalks are about four feet high ; the seed-cotton 
product, 800 to 1200, rates as middling in market; no material differ- 
ence after five years' cultivation. 

In the lowlands, on the streams, the soil is black clay loam, several feet 
in depth ; subsoil lighter than surface. About two-thirds of the crops 
on these lands is cotton. The seed-cotton product on fresh land is from 
2000 to 3000 pounds, the stalk attaining a height of six to eight feet; the 
staple rates as good middling. No change in quantity or quality of 
product has yet been noticed after years of cultivation. 

The lands of the bottoms rank equal in fertility to the alluvial lands 
of the rivers. The thriving farms of the parish are largely on this land, 
which explains the high name this parish takes in the north tier of hill 
parishes. Union is one of the banner parishes of North Louisiana, and 
the people are among the best, intellectually, morally and socially, to be 
found in any of the Southern States. 

The prominent towns in this parish are Farmerville, the parish seat, 
and Shiloh. 

School and church facilities are equal to those of any parish in North 
Louisiana. 

The people generous, neighborly and very hospitable. 

WEBSTER PARISH. 

Webster parish was created by the Legislature of 1871 of the territory 
taken from Claiborne, Bossier and Bienville parishes, and contains about 
300,000 acres of land, one-third being in cultivation, producing 10,000 
bales of cotton, with corn, oats, peas, potatoes and vegetables, usually 



U SOME LATE WORDS 

to supply home consumption. There are no alluvial lands in the parish j 
but quite a number of creeks, all of which have a considerable border oi 
what is styled good creek bottom land. Excellent well water can be 
had in all parts of the parish, and in many places can be found fine 
springs and small branches of good water for person and stock. The 
supply of timber is inexhaustible and of fine quality, chiefly red oak, 
post oak, white oak, hickory, ash, gum, and pine, and on the borders of 
the creeks large quantity of cypress can be had; also black walnut, 
which doubtless at no distant future will be very valuable. The Bayou 
Dorcheat, which passes through Webster parish from north to south, a 
distance of thirty miles or more, and makes its way into Red river 
through Lake Bisteneau, and Loggy Bayou, is navigable for six months 
in the year for good class Bed River boats to a point opposite to and 
within two and a half miles of Minden, the parish site, giving boating 
facilities equal with Shreveport on time and freight rates. Land has no 
fixed price ; from $1 to $10 per acre are about the ruling prices. It may 
be regarded as one among the best countries that can be found for poor 
men. No other could offer greater inducements to the man who is satis- 
iied with a good comfortable living, pleasant and healthy home for him- 
self and family. Such can be had here at a small cost and on easy 
terms. Any industrious, honest man can buy lands on time with 8 per 
cent, interest, and get liberal advances made by merchants to make his 
crops. The average crop, one year with another, is half bale of cotton 
and fifteen bushels of corn per' acre. The population of the parish is 
about 12,000, one-halt colored. Minden, the parish site, and only town 
in the parish, has 1,500 inhabitants, twenty business houses — several of 
them doing a business of over * 100,001) annually. 

The taxable property of the parish is about one million, and Minden 
pays about two-thirds of the parish revenue. There is a special interest 
that is worthy of mention here. Minden is the parish site and has a 
handsome and substantial court house, with all other surroundings well 
and conveniently arranged, and as healthy a location as can be found 
anywhere; with male and female colleges, equal to the best in any 
country in point of management, under good efficient principals and 
teachers, with commodious well arranged buildings and grounds. 

Minden is connected with the outside world through a tap railroad, 
which joins the Yicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific railway, at Minden 
Junction. Besides Minden, the principal trading points, are Lannes- 
ville and Lubberly. Webster parish is the home of a thrifty and enter- 
prisiug class of people, who are self-sustaining and prosperous, generous 
and public spirited. 

. LINCOLN PARISH. 

Lincoln parish has a total area of 485 square miles, all of which is 
woodland. The red lands and the yellow loam each occupy about the 
game amount and form practically the entire soil of the parish, except a 
small amount of creek bottoms. These bottoms are the same as those 
mentioned in preceding parishes, but there is not so much of it in this 
parish. The lands of the parish, with the exception of a portion in the 
north part, which is decidedly hilly and broken, are gentle and rolling, 
and easily cultivated. The growth of the trees on this land is a pretty 
sure indicator of the fertility of the land. The larger the trees and the 
less admixture of the small or scrubby pine, the more fertile the lands. 
The lands of the parish wear well, and the use of fertilizers is becoming 
popular. The farming population is doing well and thriving, as in the 
parishes of Union and Claiborne. The timber of the parish is sufficient 
for home demand for many years to come. The eastern portion of the 
parish contains probably a larger percentage of creek or bottom lands, 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 75 



and timber is very fine. The pine, oak and hickory is the principal 
growth. The parish is well provided with school houses and churches. 

Ruston, the parish site of this parish, is one of the most prosperous 
towns in North Louisiana, is situated on the Vicksburg, Shreveport and 
Pacific railroad, in the middle of a fertile country, and is growing into 
prominence. 

The towns of Simsboro and Choudrant, located on the railroad, 
although smaller than Arcadia and Ruston, are good business points. 
The country around these towns is settled by a splendid population, 
consisting mostly of white farmers. 

JACKSON PARISH. 

The parish is entirely upland, containing no alluvial soil. Its area is 
590 square miles, divided thus: Oak uplands, 340 square miles; long- 
leaf pine hills, 250 square miles. In 1880, with 10,138 acres in cotton, 
there were produced 3,753 bales, or an average of .37 of a bale per acre. 
To those seeking a healthy locality there is no region better than Jackson 
parish, with its oak uplands and long-leaf pine hills. 

The northern and greater portion of Jackson parish is rolling oak tip- 
lands, in which the pine-flat feature is much less common than in Bien- 
ville, the soil being chiefly of the pale-yellow loam type, with more or 
less of the red-land subsoil. The latter feature becomes very prominent 
north of Vernon, where the true red-land ridges, with their unpromis- 
ing-looking but very productive and durable soil, occupy a considerable 
portion of the surface. Southeast of Vernon also, on the Bayou Castor, 
there is a good farming region, rolling uplands, timbered with oaks, 
hickory, dogwood and chinquapin, mixed with some short-leaf pine on 
the hills, and with ash, beech, elm, sweet and black gums in bottoms. 

In the southern portion of Jackson parish, the long-leaf pine prevails 
altogether on the higher ridges and on the crests of the lower ones; but, 
as in Bienville, the slopes are largely timbered with oaks, mixed with 
short-leaf pine, and are fairly productive. 

BIENVILLE PARISH. 

Bienville parish, entirely upland, covers an area of 856 square miles, 
of which ?")() square miles are oak uplands, the remainder being long- 
leaf pine hills. There are 45,089 acres in cultivation, and the parish in 
1880 raised 7.208 bales of cotton on 18,242 acres of land, or an average 
of .40 of a bale per acre. 

Bienville paiish is mainly gently rolling and rather sandy oak up- 
lands, not unfreqnently almost level, especially in the western portion. 
Post oak and short-leaf pine are the prevailing timber trees, inter- 
mingled more or loss with other oaks and hickory, according to the 
quality of the land. Th<» pale yellow loam soil is predominant. In the 
level portions, the gray pine-flat soil is largely developed, and then the 
water oak and bla^k gum for a characteristic ingredient of the timber. 
Most of flats, bordering the streams are of this character, a« is also the 
country bordering on Lake Bistenean. 

The red subsoil appears in spots*, generally where the country be- 
comes more rolling, and is often accompanied by rolled gravel, as well 
as by iron ore (limonit«») concretions. This is more especially the ease 
in tiie southeastern portion, where tracts of hilly red lands occur, the 
ridges in the southerly portion having more or less long-loaf pine on 
their crvsts, while eok growth, sometimes intermingled with short-leaf 
pine, covers the Hll-oidee. At Breshy volley a#wl fterftiward, flic red 
land feature is qwfte prevalent, and oxooflen* oroys of cotton are made, 
both in tlte nplntda and » tho bfcttew of fk* rtf <*»**,, wfetogsn; h 
Dot so £»U« *• o^#\^va»^>owe«B I«ss of k»VpWi-A*0 



76 SOME LATE WORDS 



There is also a good deal of very sandy liill land, which washes very 
badly when turned out after cultivation. 

Not far from Brushy valley is a salt-lick flat, khown as Rayburn's 
lick, where much salt was made during the war. It is underlaid by 
gypsum and (Cretaceous) limestone, from which good lime can be 
burned. The use of this on the soil of the region would be very benefi- 
cial. A similar lick is " Kings," near the northeast corner of Red River 
parish, where the limestone occurs in even greater abundance and of the 
best quality. A similar lime strata spot occurs in the northwestern 
portion of the parish, near Quay Postoffice, on the head of Dugdemona 
bayou. 

About 100 square miles of this point is strictly lumber and grazing 
land, except in the creek land between the hills which produce very 
fine crops. This belt of timber is equal to the .best in the pine belt, 
which covers the large portion of Catahoula, Grand Rapides and Ver- 
non. Bienville ranks high among the parishes. The iron minerals are 
described in the report of Prof. Enderle. 

Communication with the New Orleans market is via landings on Red 
river, steamers on Lake Bisteneau, and by the Vicksburg, Shreveport 
and Pacific Railroad, which runs through the northern portion or it. 

The town of Arcadia, on the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Rail- 
road, has a population of over 1G00 souls, and is one of the best business 
points in North Louisiana. 

The parish site is Sparta, a small place, having a good business from 
the surrounding country. 

Gibbsland.— This place, one of the prettiest spots on the Vicksburg, 
Shreveport and Pacific, is a place of some consequence, owing to its saw 
mills and lumber trade. 

Ringgold. — This place is near Lake Bisteneau, and is surrounded by a 
fine country. 

The school and church advantages are good. The people are indus- 
trious, sociable, neighborly and prosperous. There is plenty of room 
in this parish for home-seekers and investors in land. 

RED RIVER PARISH. 

This parish lies in the fertile valley of Red river, the finest cotton 
producing region of the world. Its area is 386 square miles, of which 
165 square miles are rich alluvium, or Red river bottom. There are 
33,930 acres in cultivation, of which 19,200 acres are in cotton, and 
10,566 acres in corn. 

Coushatta, the parish site, situated on Red river, is a lively little 
town, where are located a number of staunch firms engaged in commer- 
cial pursuits. Red river possesses many advantages to commend it to 
the attention of home-seekers. It is rich in valuable timber, and has a 
soil, both alluvial and upland, of unsurpassed fertility. 

All the vegetables and fruit kuown to horticulturists, when properly 
cared for, grow luxuriantly, and yield a rich return for the labor be- 
stowed upon their cultivation ; sweet and Irish potatoes both produce 
wonderful results. An aveuage of one hundred and fifty bushels per 
acre of Irish potatoes, is not an uncommon yield, and as much as three 
hundred bushels to the acre of sweet potatoes have been produced. 

The average yield of cotton is one bale per acre, but it is not uncom- 
mon to obtain one and a half, and even two bales per acre, under judi- 
cious cultivation. Corn is produced on an average of 30 to 40 bushels 
per acre, and in many instances, from 75 to 100 bushels have been 
gathered per acre. The common field pea planted with corn on the 
same ground, and at the same time, will yield from 20 to 30 bushels, be- 
sides acting as a superior fertilizer to the land planted. Sorghum grows 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 77 



luxuriantly and proves rich in saccharine properties. Millet, oats, rye 
and clover yield large results. The native grasses and cattle food grow 
in great richness, and possess as much nutritive properties as any known 
food for grazing. 

Special attention is given to fine stock, and in the parish are several 
herds of Holstein, Jersey and other strains that will compare favorably 
with the best in the country. The remarks on schools, churches, so- 
ciety and health in the descriptions of other parishes are applicable to 
Red Eiver, where the people are prosperous, hospitable, generous, and 
will welcome heartily all those seeking new homes in one of the most 
attractive parishes in North Louisiana. 

OUACHITA PARISH. 

The parish of Ouachita is a rich and populous parish. It lies on both 
sides of the Ouachita river, and is largely of alluvial soil. Its entire 
area is 640 square miles, of which the alluvial lands cover 340, the long- 
leaf pine hills 190, and the oak uplands 110 square miles. That portion 
of the parish lying east of the Ouachita, is almost entirely alluvial, and 
the preponderance of crops is grown there. The total crop of the parish 
is large, and is mostly cotton and corn, producing from one to two bales 
of cotton, and from 40 to 75 bushels of corn to the acre, when cultivated 
intelligently. Fruit, vegetables and all the grasses grow luxuriantly, 
and yield abundantly. Cattle and stock generally do well and pay 
handsome returns. Good health prevails throughout the parish. The 
church and school facilities are excellent. The timber on the alluvial 
lands is largely of the water oak, sycamore, cypress and tupelo. On the 
oak upland is found all kinds of oak, and short-leaf pine grows to great 
extent. There is on Bayou Cheniere (pronounced Shinney), a large cypress 
brake. This bayou lies about seven miles west of Monroe between hill 
lands, and is crossed by the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific railroad. 
The timber of the western portion of the parish is being utilized and 
shipped by the railroad. There are also a great many saw mills in the 
southwestern portion of this parish in the long-leaf pine region. This 
industry is opened for the profitable investment of capital. 

Monroe is a beautiful and attractive little city of 2,500 population ; 
has a mayor and council and all the facilities for the transaction of busi- 
ness possessed by larger cities. West Monroe lies on the west bank of 
the Ouachita. It is a business place of growing importance. 

In this parish, near Calhoun, a station on the Vicksburg, Shreveport 
and Pacific railway, is located the experiment farm, which is intended to 
teach a scientific and better cultivation of all lands in North Louisiana. 

In the "Pine Hills" or group of parishes, are to be placed Vernon, 
Grant, Winn, Catahoula, Rapides, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington 
and St. Tammany. To all intents, all the above, except Rapides, Grant 
and Catahoula may be said to be entirely in the " Pine Hills" area. The 
Red river bottom giving considerable territory in Grant and Rapides 
parishes to the "Alluvial Lands," and the Tensas river and its affluents 
to Catahoula parish. These " Pine Hills" parishes are widely separated, 
however: St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Tammany be- 
ing in the northeastern corner of the State, south and west of rhe State 
of Mississippi, while- the others are in west and northwest Louisiana. 

We now proceed to extract from "Hon. Wm. Harris' late hand-book 
of Immigration," descriptions of these parishes: 



78 SOME LATE WORDS 

VERNON. 

The parish of Vernon lies to the south of Sabine and to the west of 
Rapides, and extends westward to the river Sabine, the boundary of 
Texas. This parish is noted for the extensive forests of long-leaf pine 
with which it is covered. Leesville is the county site. A prominent 
citizen writes : 

" The parish is mostly an upland country, though a good deal of low- 
land and cyprrss brakes are near the Sabine river. There are some 
prairie lands a few miles northwest, north and south of Leesville, which 
are very productive. The large Anacoco creek passes entirely through 
the western part of the parish, and affords a good deal of tine lands, be- 
sides some State lands well timbered. Numerous creeks run through 
that portion of the parish emptying into the Anacoco, and a large num- 
ber pass through the eastern portion, which empty into the Calcasieu 
river. The lands are well adapted to cotton, corn, potatoes, rice and 
sugar cane. The total population is about 5000, mostly whites. 

" The farmers are doing well and have settled near the prairie lands, 
and along the creeks and rivers, where they have access to swamp and 
pine lands, though in many instances they have settled in the pine 
woods, where they cultivate excellent pine lands and raise stock. The 
surface of the parish is, in general, rolling and in parts hilly, and the 
yellow pine grows in abundance. 

" The swamp lands are of two grades — a low stiff bottom land, and a 
high, sandy, swamp land, and all well timbered with oak, gum, hickory, 
magnolia, ash, and various other growths. The immense range for 
stock, and pure water in abundance, make it all one could desire who 
seqks to combine farming and stock raising. 

" The pine and cypress timber have attracted a good deal of attention. 
and a lively business is now going on (especially in pine), running logs 
down the Anacoco creek and Sabine river for the Orange timber market 
at remunerative prices. This trade is fast increasing. 

"Private lands are almost without a price, there being so much 
vacant public land well adapted to farming, upon which immigrants can 
settle without money or price, free from all fear of being disturbed ; for 
since the first settling of this country, there are but three or four cases 
where the claims, rights and interest of such settlers have been infringed 
upon by other parties entering the laud. 

" The character of the people is law-abiding and hospitable — but few 
cases ever occur of a grave criminal nature. As proof of this, the police 
jury of the parish levied a tax of only $650 to defray the entire criminal 
expenses of the parish for the year 1880, deeming it ample for that 
purpose. 

"Agricultnre, cutting and running timber to market, and raising stock 
are the chief employments of the people, and as a general thing they are 
easy and prosperon*. 

"The health of the parish is extremely good. 

" All the creek* furnish fish in abundance. Deer and fcurkeys are 
plentiful in all localities. A fine corn crop ha« bee* made this year, 
which can be had «m reasonable terras, and the cifeusens •£' the parish 
are prepared 1m ■waioame all who come t* look tip h «••*." 

RAPIDES.* 

Red river flows diagonally across this parish froat ■#rtfi'«r««t t« sauth- 
•ast,ftndits course flrwmgh the parish, by flhe meandering* of the staeann, 
is about sixty miles i« length. The valley lie* mainly oa tHa weat tide, 

VTMs^arish lepltt«e« i» tiie "Pine Hills" bdfbecMue &• gruttm pntim tf its area is 
in that cJassift#»M»». % Tbnf . Lockett. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 79 



and lias an average width of about ten miles. Through this alluvial 
territory, west of Red river aud nearly parallel with it, flow the Bayous 
Rapides, Robert and Boeuf, forming almost a continuous stream. The 
distance intervening between the river and these bayous varies from 
two to about seven miles. In this section the plantations and farms 
which are almost contiguous, are located on the river and along the 
bayous, near which stand the residences of the planters and the quarters 
for laborers. Ibre. also, are located the sugar mills, cotton gins, and 
the other buildings of the farms; aud near the margins of these streams 
run the highways which traverse the country. Nearly the whole of the 
territory, here described is above overflow, and every acre can be re- 
claimed and brought into cultivation. 

This section is by far the richest portion of the parish, and here are 
found many of the largest and most productive cotton and sugar planta- 
tions in the State. It was originally covered with dense canebrakes, 
but these have been destroyed by the inroads of herds of stock, or 
have given plaee to the varied crops produced in this portion of 
Louisiana. 

The healthfulness of the parish is not excelled by any portion of the 
South, and is as nearly perfect as that of any country. Instances of 
longevity among the resident population are quite common. Foreigners 
become acclimated, and encounter exposure to all the vicissitudes of the 
weather with the same impunity as the native population. Sunstrokes 
seldom or never occur, aud no enervating effects of climate are expe- 
rienced. 

Alexandria, the parish site, situated upon the west bank of Red river, 
150 miles above its mouth, is a town of considerable importance, and 
has a population of 200Q.f ft stands at the head of low water naviga- 
tion on Red river, and is the business centre and chief shipping point of 
an immensely fertile region. It contains numerous churches and schools, 
and is rapidly improving. Pineville, on the opposite side of the river, 
is the second town in the parish, and lias about 600 inhabitants. A 
large business is done by the merchants of this place, and it ships a 
large quantity of cotton. Cheney ville, Kanomie, Cotile and Lacomte 
are villages of some note. All of them are situated in the valley sec- 
tion. 

The soils of this region may be classed under three heads: 

1. The alluvial is the most productive, and is equally adapted to the 
production of the great staples, cotton and sugar. 

2. The uplands and creek bottoms, on which the soil is generally a 
sandy loam, varying in depth, quite productive, easy of cultivation, and 
yielding oftentimes a bale of cotton and forty bushels of corn per acre. 

3. The pine lands, consisting of a thin soil with an under stratum of 
clay, susceptible of being highly enriched by manuring or by the appli- 
cation of the ordinary fertilizers. 

In the bottoms are found a variety of the oak, cypress, ash, hack- 
berry, elm, gum, cotton wood, beech, willow and many other kinds. On 
the hills, the yellow pine constitutes almost the entire growth. The 
saw-mills supply the home demand for lumber, and ship large quantities 
to points on the Red and Mississippi rivers. 

GRANT, WINN AND CATAHOULA PARISHES. 

These parishes lie together near the centre of Louisiana, between par- 
allels 31° and 32°. 

Grant and Winn are located in the long leaf pine hills, and although 
Catahoula is regarded as a pine woods parish, a large part of the parish 

{Considerably greater now. 



80 SOME LATE WORDS 

is alluvial and some bluff and good uplands. All of these parishes are 
heavily timbered. 

The hill portion is a succession of elevations, interspersed with val- 
leys and bottoms, and intersected by numerous creeks, some of which 
arc fed by springs of pure water. The swamp is level alluvial land, in- 
tersected by numerous rivers and bayous, and dotted with lakes, some 
of which are beautiful. 

In the swamp region are found nearly all the valuable varieties of 
oaks, also the ash, sweet gum, hnckberry, maple and persimmon. ' In the 
hills, in addition to the varieties mentioned, there are poplar, sumac, 
sassafras, hickory, magnolia and a vast forest of pine trees. Tlie soil of 
the swamp is exceedingly fertile, but contains no minerals. That of the 
hill is generally a sandy loam, based upon red or yellow clay, with 
rocks suitable for building purposes, cropping out on the hillsides. The 
soil of the numerous valleys in the hill region is alluvion, and very pro- 
ductive. Coal has been found, and traces, of iron ore ; also chalk, 
potter's clay and kaolin. That there is much sulphur is evinced by the 
numerous sulphur and salt springs, two of which, the white sulphur and 
the castor sulphur, are justly noted for their healing proprieties. The 
mineral resources have not been developed. Large quantities of marble 
have been discovered in Winn. 

All the products suitable to this latitude can be grown, but the fol- 
lowing are best adapted for cultivation: Cotton, corn, peas, sugar cane, 
oats, tobacco, rice, potatoes and melons. 

In the hills the average yield of corn, per acre, is about fifteen bushels; 
of cotton, about 1000 pounds of seed cotton. In the swamp the average 
yield of corn is about thirty-five bushels per acre, and of cotton about 
one bale. Much of the land will, when properly cultivated, produce 
from one to two bales of cotton to the acre, and from thirty to fifty 
bushels of corn. Corn was sold last year in the home market at from 
fifty to seventy -five cents per bushel.* 

These parishes are about as healthy as any other portion of central or 
northern Louisiana, and in this respect compare favorably with any 
other portion of the Southwest. In the swamp, cistern water is used. 
In the hills, good wells and springs are common. The temperature 
rarely ever rises above 90° in summer, and seldom falls below freezing 
point in winter. The winters are generally mild enough to admit of 
good gardens. 

The population are mostly white. The negroes are quiet and peace- 
able, but are unthrifty, and not as industrious as the white laborers of 
the West and North. They are gradually leaving the parish for those 
sections where their race is numerically stronger than the whites. The 
majority of the whites are from the old States of the Union. There are 
many Germans, Irish and Israelites here, who seem to be prosperous and 
contented. 

In the swamp, the public land belongs to the State, and is generally 
too much subject to overflow to be settled. In the hills, there are im- 
mense bodies of public land belonging to the United States, subject to 
entry.f Private unimproved lands can be purchased in any sized tracts, 
and at from 50 cents to $8 per acre ; and improved lands can be bought 
at from $1 to $15 per acre. Laud can be rented at from $1 50 to $3 50 
per acre, but the usual manner of renting is "on the shares." 

Nearly all the religious denominations to be found in the Union are 
represented here ; but the vast majority of the religious people belong 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church South and the Missionary Baptists. 
In the swamp, blacks are generally employed as laborers. These, 

*This refers to a period several years back. 
fLel the reader not euuut on that now- 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 81 



though not as efficient as is desirable, are far more reliable now than 
they were soon after their eman ipation. In the hills the laborers are 
white men from the older States of the Union. People want intelligent 
white laborers from other sections of the United States and from Europe 
— men who will come here for the purpose of establishing for themselves 
permanent homes and identifying themselves in interest with her citizens. 
Such will be heartily welcomed, will find employment at remunerative 
wages, and will be able to work all the year in the field with safety, 
the old error, inculcated by the enemies of the South, that only black 
men can do this having been exploded by observation and experiment 
since the war. 

Laborers are offered from $6 to $16 per month, with rations, and 
mechanics from $2 to $3 a day. Cropping on shares is very generally 
practiced. In some instances, the renter agrees to give one bale of 
cotton for the rent of eight or ten acres of land. In others, the laborer 
furnishes his own provisions and the labor, and. gets one-half the pro- 
duce, the land and everything else being furnished by the landlord, who 
gets the other half. In others the landlord furnishes everything, but 
the labor, and receives three-fourths of the crop. 

There is some immigration, mostly from Mississippi, Alabama and 
Texas. No efforts have been made to secure immigrants. 

The section throughout is well adapted to stock raising. The soil 
every where is covered with succulent weeds, bushes, vines and nutri- 
tious grasses, that afford abundant food for cattle, sheep, goats and 
horses. The numerous oak, pine and beech trees, and muscadine vines 
produce abundant mast for hogs. Horses are rarely fed, except when 
in use, and other kinds of stock are reared for market without feeding. 
Nearly every fanner is engaged, to some extent, in stock raising, and 
there are many beards of cattle. Stock cattle are valued at $10 per 
head, sheep at' from $1 50 to $2 per head, and hogs from fifty cents to 
$1. The profit of stock raising is simply enormous; in some instances 
more than 50 per cent, has been realized. 

Little has been accomplished in the direction of manufacturing ; but 
in the hill region there are many creeks having water power sufficient to 
propel saw and grist mills and cotton gins, and two or three having 
sufficient power to run cotton and wool factories. There are saw and 
grist mills and gins run by water, and several propelled by steam — all 
of which are doing a good business. 

New Orleans is the best market. Produce is shipped by steamers on 
the Ouachita, Tensas, Little, Black and Red rivers, and reaches New 
Orleans in one or two days. 

Apples, pears, plums, strawberries and grapes, are the fruits most 
suitable for cultivation. Blackberries, dewberries, mulberries, musca- 
dines and other fruits are found everywhere growing wild and in great 
abundance. Fruit growing, as a business, has not been engaged in ex- 
tensively. 

Peas, beans, cabbages, radishes, squashes, okra, lettuce, onions, beets 
and all other vegetables suitable to the South, can be grown in abund- 
ance and profitably. ♦ 

Silk culture has never been engaged in, but from the facts that the 
climate is suitable, that the mulberry and other growths upon which the 
silkworm feeds, flourish here, and that this is the habitat of caterpillars 
similar in nature to the silkworm, it is believed that, as an industry, silk 
culture could be made profitable. 

This is emphatically a honey making country. Thousands of swarms 
of wild bees are found yearly in the forests, and at nearly every farm- 
house may be seen hives in which these b'isy little creatures are deposit- 
ing their valued treasures. 



82 SOME LATE WORDS 



The whole country, being covered with nutritious growths, milk, 
butter and cheese can be produced at little cost. All kinds of poultry- 
are easily raised. 

Oak barks of the best kinds, and other tanning materials being plen- 
tiful, and hides abundant and cheap, tanning could be engaged in 
profitably. Saw mills, lumbering, cotton, wool, and wagon factories 
could be made profitable. 

The uiauy rivers, creeks, bayous and beautiful lakes are in the fall, 
winter and early spring the resort of thousands of geese, brants and 
ducks, and at all times are teeming with edible hsh, such as trout, bass, 
perch, bream, cat, drum and buffalo. These are easily caught with lead 
and line, and contribute both to the pleasure and profit of the peo- 
ple. In the forests are thousands of deer, squirrels, rabbits and other 
game. 

An industrious man can cultivate about fifteen acres in cotton, corn, 
peas and vegetables, on which he cau produce from eight to ten bales of 
cottou, from 150 to 300 bushels of corn, potatoes and vegetables for 
family consumption; and when we add to this the profits of his catttle, 
hogs and horses that subsist on the range, in most places, the whole 
year, it is plainly to be seen that the profits of farm labor are simply 
extraordinary, when compared with that of the States of Europe or the 
older States of the Union. The truth is, there is probably no country 
where a living can be made with less exertion, and the exemption which 
this affords from the great law of labor, has really injured our people 
by paralyzing their energy. 

Previous to the late war, rich swamp lands lying principally along the 
Ouachita, Black, Tensas and Little rivers, and on Sicily Island, had 
been purchased by wealthy slave owners, were held by them in large 
bodies, and could not be bought for less than from $25 to $75 per acre. 
Large bodies of these lands had been brought into cultivation, costly 
improvements had been erected upon them, and they were the seats oi 
prosperity, wealth and luxury, and in many instances of intelligence 
and refinement. The hill region was also gradually settling with pros- 
perous and independent small farmers. The long and bloody war, 
during which this was the theatre of predatory strife, and the unhappy 
and unwise administration of the reconstruction laws, devastated the 
country, drove many of its best citizens away, impoverished those that 
remained, and repelled immigration. 

ST. HELENA, TANGIPAHOA, WASHINGTON AND ST. TAMMANY 

PARISHES. 

These four parishes lie to the east of East Felieiana and Livingston, 
and are bounded on the north and east by the State of Mississippi. 
Pearl river marks their extreme eastern boundary. 

These parishes are located in the great long-leaf pine region, and their 
topography and general characteristics are similar. 

The population of this section are farmers rather than planters. They 
are an independent, hard handed people, who do their own work and 
make their own crops, generally without the aid of a commission 
merchant. They grow everything necessary for home comforts except 
tea and coffee. 

Their farms are generally along the creek and river bottoms, and their 
flocks and herds run at large in the pine woods. This is essentially a 
•white man's country. 

There is good and sufficient railroad, river and lake transportation., 
The Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad intersects Tangipahoa, 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 83 



from north to south, and the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad 
passes through the eastern borders of St. Tammany.* 

Good water is found in abundance everywhere — all clear, cool and 
pleasant to the taste. In the vicinity of Covington, St. Tammany parish, 
are many fine mineral wells and springs. The Abita springs, three 
miles from Covington, are the resort of a large and constantly increas- 
ing number of invalids, and many of the wells in Covington have ac- 
quired quite a reputation by their numerous cures. 

The thermometer rarely reaches 88° in the summer, or falls below 40° 
in winter. The nights are cool, and the air seems to possess remarkable 
curative powers in all diseases of the lungs and throat. A well-authen- 
ticated case of sunstroke has never been known in the pine woods. 

The entire section is heavily timbered. Pearl river and Bogue Chitto 
forming the eastern boundary, have bottom lands along their banks 
varying from one to three miles in depth. The other numerous streams 
have but a narrow skirt only a few hundred yards in width. Tangipa- 
hoa, Bonfouca, Bayou Liberty, Bayou Lacombe, Tchefuncta, Abita, 
Pontchatoula and Bogue Falls are all navigable streams, some of them 
being navigated for twenty miles above their mouths. The entire re- 
gion is tilled with streams of clear, cold water, and there is scarcely a 
spot where line well water cannot be found at a short distance from the 
surface. 

With the exception of the creek and river bottoms, and the swamp 
above Lake Pontehartraiu, the surface is covered with a heavy and valu- 
ble growth of pine. Numerous creeks afford a cheap and easy mode of 
carrying the logs, wood, charcoal, tar and other products of this forest, 
to the New OWeans markets. In the bottoms of the creeks and rivers, 
magnolia, beech, gum, oak, hickory, ash, cypress, dogwood and holly 
abound. Along the lake coast are valuable tracts of live oaks. In the 
bottoms of Pearl river and Bogue Chitto. vast quantities of white oak 
timber are found 

The bottom land is productive, and similar to that lying along all the 
small creeks and bayous of the State. The pine lands generally have a 
surface soil of sandy loam, varying from six to twelve inches in depth, 
under which is found a stiff clay, impervious to water. The clay is of a 
tine quality for making brick. A very line article of pottery has also 
been made from it. 

Sand suitable for the manufacture of glass is found in large quantities. 

Nearly all the religious denomination are well represented, the Catho- 
lics. Methodists and Baptists. Every ward has either a public or pri- 
vate school — sometimes both. 

Around the towns, colored labor is generally employed. Most of the 
farming is done by the white men, who generally own the land. Indus- 
trious white or colored ni"!i can always find employment at about $15 
per month with board. If they prefer to work the crop on shares, they 
get one-quarter, farmer furnishing everything. 

The supply of mechanics is equal t'o the demand. But there is a groat 
demand for reliable labor, either white or colored. White men, both 
native born and foreign, can, and do, work all the year in the field with 
safety. 

Both land and living are so cheap that there is no place where the im- 
migrant can make a start on less money. Immigrants from the North 
or any portion of Europe would be eagerly welcomed. Suitable land 
can be obtained from the Government under the homestead laws,, and 
the timber for fences and buildings will be found on the laud. 

Neither cattle nor sheep are fed during the entire year. Botk «r» 

•CoTinptnn ts ntrw «w»n»<»c*Bd by railroad with tfret wrilr»a4. 



84 SOME LATE WORDS 

profitable, but sheep pay far better than cattle. At present, the busi- 
ness of. stork raisin*; is very badly conducted. Many stock owners do 
not see their stork for months at a time. No herders are ever in charge 
of the sheep, and they ate turned adrift at the merry of hogs, dogs and 
buzzards. Consequently the losses are heavy, and yet with all these 
drawbacks the business is very profitable. There are no burrs to injure 
the wool, and they do not seem to suffer from any diseases. The herds 
of cattle vary from forty to five hundred head in number, and sheep 
from cyie hundred to one thousand. 

Cattle yield vJ5 per rent profit, sheep from 45 to 50 per cent, according 
to the amount of attention paid to them. 

The streams afford plenty of water power for manufacturing, but 
there are no manufactories. The water is remarkably clear aud pure, 
and many fine locations rould be found for paper manufactories. 

New Orleans is the nearest and best market. It is reached in a few 
hours by rail, steamboat or schooner. 

Figs, pomegranates, peaches, apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, 
pecans and walnuts grow everywhere. Strawberries are profitable. 
Along the lake coast the orange thrives very well, and a good many or- 
chards have been recently planted. Several varieties of the grape have 
proved very profitable, and some German and French citizens have com- 
menced making wine on a small scale. 

All kinds of vegetables grow well. The health of the pine woods is 
yearly attracting large numbers of people to the towns. This affords a 
ready market for all the vegetables aud fruits that can be raised by 
those engaged in this business. The supply is not near equal to the de- 
mand.* 

The nearness of the New Orleans markat and the cheapness of trans- 
portation render this section a fine location for almost any industry. 

When disease prevailed to an alarming extent among the silkworms 
of Italy, the government of that country sought to renew the stock of 
worms by importing eggs from other countries. For this purpose a pre- 
mium was offered for the finest eggs. Mr. John Rocchi carried off this 
premium, with eggs raised at his place in Covington. All varieties of 
the mulberry flourish with great vigor, and there is no doubt but silk 
could be produced with profit. 

Bees succeed well and produce fine honey. 

The fine grass range makes the production of milk and butter very 
profitable. Poultry require but little feed or care. 

All the bayous and rivers are well stocked with every variety of 
perch, black bass, catfish, buffalo, rockfish and suckers. In Lake Pont- 
chartrain, sheephead, redfish, croakers, flounders and other varieties of 
salt water fish are found. 

Game is abundant. Deer, turkeys, squirrels and quail, ducks, wood- 
cock and snipe. 

An industrious man can cultivate from fifteen to twenty acres in 
mixed crops, say four in cane, four in cotton, ten in corn, two and a half 
in sweet potatoes. Besides these crops he can cultivate several acres iu 
red oats, they being planted in the fall and reaped in June. In addi- 
tion to this work, he can attend to a small stock of sheep and cattle. A 
committee of citizens send the following endorsement of these parishes: 

"Population, mostly white; nationalities, American and mixtures 
from the different countries of Europe. We have English, Scotch, Ger- 
mans, Swedes, French and Irish. The general character of our inhabi- 
jBnts will compare favorably with the best in the United States. 

To the north are rolling piney-woods, interspersed wdth numerous 
rivers, creeks and branches. The principal growth is pine, mostly long- 

* This language is not applicable to the business now. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 85 



leaf yellow, oaks of Bevera] varieties, gum, poplar, magnolia, btteeh, 
bass-wood, maple, sumac, hickory, (logwood, etc., on the water courses. 
birch, elm, cherry, etc., a small quantity of cypress in the small river 
swamps. 

The lands on the river banks, from a quarter to a mile. wide, are 
nearly all cultivable. Our rivers and creeks are Btibject to overflow 
from heavy rains in the spring and late in the tall, for a few days only. 
The uplands are in general sandy, with good clay sub-soil. The 
branch, creek and river flats are the cream of the uplands, washed off 
by the rains; they are a dark, sandy loam, with good clay sub-soil) 

There are many tine mill sites, affording sufficient water power for 
factories and machinery. A number of sawmills and cotton gins are 
now run by them. The quality of our soil is generally productive. 

No minerals developed as yet. Small quantities of iron ore can he 
seen in many places. 

We can grow almost any kind of crops, including many from the 
tropics. Cotton is cultivated by the majority of farmers as the money 
crop. On land not. fertilized, the average yield is from one-half to three- 
quarter bales of cotton per acre. Land well fertilized and cultivated 
will yield, with favorable season, one bale weighing trom 4(H) to 50(1 
pounds. 

The average crop of corn on lands not fertilized is from ten to fifteen 
bushels. By fertilization, some farmers have made from forty to fifty 
bushels per acre, worth at home from fifty cents to one dollar per 
bushel. 

Sweet potatoes, cultivated for home use, are a profitable crop, yield 
from 100 to 300 bushels per acre, worth from twenty-fi ve to fifty cents 
per bushel at home. Irish potatoes yield about the same. We can 
raise two crops a year. 

( tots yield about the same as corn. Sugarcane is generally cultivated 
in small patches. Little portable mills and copper evaporating pans are 
resorted to in the manufacture of syrup. 

Parties having null and fixtures go trom place to place in the fail, and 
grind on shares, usually one-sixth for use of mill and man to tend it. 
When the miller furnishes team and help the toll ranges from one- 
fourth to one-third. 

We can make, with very little work, one hogshead of sugar and four 
barrels of molasses per acre. 

Sorghum cane produces well, and makes an excellent feed for raising 
hogs. It will make from 60 to 100 gallons per acre, worth 40 and 50 
cents per gallon. It is not cultivated much. 

Rice is cultivated with but little work on new-ground lauds. 

Broom corn will do splendidly here. 

Hops do well. 

Tobacco will do as well here as anywhere. Three cuttings a year can 
be obtained. 

Crab grass and pea hay are generally cut and saved for stock here. 

Pea vines plowed in just as the pea turns to ripen is the best and 
cheapest fertilizer we can use, and by actual test, it will redeem barren 
lands in three years to their primitive state of fertility. 

Almost every farmer has some fruit trees, generally peaches. The 
climate and soil are well adapted to the culture of a large variety of 
fruits — quinces, pomegranates, peaches, pears, some few varieties of 
apple, plums of every variety do well, figs never fail, some few varieties of 
grapes do exceedingly well ; watermelons, exceedingly fine, often 
weighing from 40 to 50 pounds; pumpkins and kershaws are excellent. 

Jute will do well by actual test. 

Our climate is delightful — the doctors often say distressingly healthy. 



86 SOME LATE WORDS 

Atmosphere pure and salubrious at all times. We have no epidemics 
in our parish. Our mortality list will compare favorably with any other 
section of the United States. We are much less liable to sunstroke 
than in the State of New York; in fact, sunstroke is hardly known here. 

Our drinking water is as good as anywhere in the world ; it is ob- 
tained from numerous bold crystal springs, wells and cisterns. 

Lands of all kinds can be bought, woodland and improved lands — 
prices varying from $1 to $10 per acre, according to locality and im- 
provements. Terms can be made in most cases to suit purchaser. 
Thousands of acres of unsurpassed saw-mill timber can be had at the 
Government price, per acre, $1 25, or even less. 

The usual contract for labor is, for the farmer to furnish the land, 
teams, feed and implements necessary to cultivate and gather the crop, 
and give one-half of all the crops raised. 

When rations are furnished, the laborer gets one-third of the crop. 
When wages are given, the range is from $10 to $15 per month, with 
usual rations. When parties rent, they pay according to value of land, 
condition offences and improvements, etc.; easy terms can be made. 

This is a great hog country. They generally grow fat in the woods. 

From the observation of some of our oldest settlers, every third year 
the beech trees are ladened with fruit. Oak and pine masts are gener- 
ally plentiful. 

The natural facility and ease of production, of forage of every kind, 
with mildness of climate and unlimited wild pasture, makes this natur- 
ally a fine stock country. Horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats and hogs 
can be raised here with as much profit as anywhere. 

The average price of native sheep is $1 50 per head ; beef cattle, 
yearlings at home, from $5 to $6 per head ; milch cows from $15 to $20 
per head. 

The cost of raising is comparatively nothing, as in this climate stock 
can get along without wintering. In the months of February and March 
they need some little attention. Hence stock raising with us is nearly all 
profit. The manure alone will pay for the attention given to stock. 
Milk, butter, hides and wool are a great source of profit. 

Lumber sells at the mills from $8 to $10 per 1000 feet. 

We have good home markets in our numerous country and village 
stores for everything we raise. 

The woods proverbially are a natural flower garden the year round, 
and every variety of tame, native or imported plants that can be culti- 
vated in the United States, will do well here — but few needing any 
winter protection. 

We have turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, deer, opossums, coons, ducks, 
woodcock, snipe, quails, etc. 

We have a fair supply in our streams, including perch, trout, catfish, 
buffalo, caspagou, soft-shell turtles and hard-shells of several varieties. 

We have a variety of native song-birds — the American canary, lark 
and mocking bird, the imitators of all birds, fdling the air with it* de- 
lightful warble day and night; the oriole, wren, humming-bird, blue- 
jay, thrush, blue, red and blackbird, and many other* of variegated 
colors. 

We invite honeat, well meaning, white immigrant* from all quarters 
of the globe. They ean find employment here at remunerative wage*, 
and can work all the year round in the field* with perfect safety. 

Capitalist* aad manufacturers are needed to develop the LrsalealabJe 
resource* of our country. Good mechanic! get fair wage*. 

We *i+v« had bat little ira migration a* yet ; we have a ftew froM •thee 
State* in tb* Uaiaa, a f*w ttom Sweden, Gariaaar, EnfUad, Fraace md 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 8'i 



It would be gross disparagement of these parishes did we not chron- 
icle some of the changes that have taken place in parts of the last area, 
since Col. Harris wrote the above. In general terms, we have averted 
to it in the former part of this pamphlet, where we alluded to the de- 
velopment that has taken place'in Louisiana within the last two or 
three years. For this, the Illinois Central Railroad deserves especial 
commendation. Their agents, assisted by numerous co-workers in their 
own behalf, have advertised the area in question with such effect, that sev- 
eral new towns have been started, and several old ones have developed 
to a remarkable degree. From at or near the State line, on the South- 
ern branch of the Illinois Central Railroad (Southern branch), as far 
South as Pontchatoula (on the same railroad), there is hardly a locality 
in the United States where the raising of small fruits is in greater rapid- 
ity of development. This is mainly confined to strawberries just yet, 
but raspberries have been successfully tried; and there is a tendency to 
the culture of peach and pear. In strawberry culture alone, hundreds 
are engaged; and there are several thousand acres "set" in that fruit. 
Vegetable raising is also progressing finely. The produce is raised 
early for the markets of Chicago, St. Louis and other Western cities. 

Tangipahoa, Areola, Amite, Independence, Hammond and Pontcha- 
toula are older places that have been greatly resuscitated or developed ; 
while Kentwood, Roseland, Happy Woods (and perhaps other towns, 
for they spring up so fast that one can hardly keep pace with their 
birth) are new towns of hardly a year old. 

And this progressiveness is not confined to the railroad. On either 
side, for quite a distance, the wave of immigration has spread, and on 
the Mississippi Valley Railroad, west, fruit culture and vegetable raising 
are asserting themselves; and in St. Tammany parish, near Covington, 
there are marked interest and good development. 

Of course, values of lauds have greatly enhanced ; and it would be 
idle to undertake to state prices. Home-see'kers must make their own 
investigations in this regard. 



The following parishes (except East Feliciana), aro placed by Prof. 
Lockett in the category of " Bluff Lands." The descriptions are from a 
pamphlet issued by the late Commissioner of Immigration, Hon. Wm. 
H. Harris: 

WEST CARROLL, RICHLAND AND FRANKLIN. 

These parishes are situated in the northeastern part of the State, be- 
tween the Mississippi and Ouachita rivers. 

The formation of their lands are identical. The larger part being 
bluff lands, while the lands bordering Bayou Macon on the east, arl 
Bceuf river on the west, are alluvial. 

The Shreveport and Pacific railroad intersects Richland parisi, and 



88 SOME LATE WORDS 



its principal towns are Delhi and Rayville, containing from two hun- 
dred to three hundred inhabitants, with schools, churches and all the 
accessories ot civilization required by an intelligent and retined com- 
munity. 

These parishes are well watered in every part. The principal streams 
are Bayous Boeufand Macon, which *re navigable in winter and spring 
by large steamboats, affording ample transportation to market for all 
the products. 

The lands bordering the bayous are as good as any in the State, the 
actual yield, according to the census report, being four-fifths of a bale 
of cotton. While this is the average yield of the entire parish, the 
yield of plantations on the bayous in the alluvial lands often reaches 
one and a half hales of cotton per acre and fifty bushels of corn. 

Only a small proportion of these lauds is under cultivation, although 
there is not an acre of barren land in its limits. All the laud not under 
cultivation is covered with a heavy growth of magnificent timber, 
among which is found the oak, ash, elm, gum, black walnut, beech, 
magnolia and other growths of alluvial and bluff formations. 

The principal productions are cotton, corn and sweet potatoes; oats, 
rye, millet and many of the domestic grasses grow well. 

Floyd is the county site of West Carroll, and Winnsboro of Franklin 
parish. 

West Carroll lies between Bayous Macon and Beeuf, but includes ouly 
a narrow belt of alluvium lying along these streams, the main body be- 
ing an upland ridge similar to the Bastrop hills, constituting the most 
northerly portion of the upland peninsula, which, farther south, forms 
part of the parishes of Richland and Franklin, under the general desig- 
nation of " Bayou Macon Hills." This ridge rises rather abruptly from 
the bottom plain of the Bayou Macon to the height of twenty feet. It is 
composed of a sandy, yellow loam, and its eastern portion is timbered 
with short-leaf pine. In the western, the post and black-jack oaks 
predominate over the pine. The westward slope, towards Bayou Boeuf, 
is gentle, and the land improves as we descend ; the yellow loam subsoil 
being apparent for some distance into the Bceuf alluvial plain. The 
soil of the latter is highly productive. 

West Carroll is bounded on the north by the State of Arkansas. The 
county site is Floyd. 

The- topographical formation of Richland and Franklin is the same. 
Alluvial and Bluff lands. 

These three parishes extend southward from the Arkansas line, a dis- 
tance of 90 miles, to the Otlachita river. 

The general face of Richland parish is level, with an occasional eleva- 
tion of a narrow strip of land eight or ten feet above the general sur- 
face. In the southwestern part, there is a small portion that is prairie. 
The bottom or swamp lands lie upon the streams and are regarded as 
the most productive, producing one to one and a half bales of cotton 
per acre in good seasons, and corn and other products in proportion. 
The kinds of timber in abundance are oak, gum, hickory, pine, ash, 
dogwood, birch. Nearly every species of tree found in the South is 
here. 

The soil of the parish is well adapted to the growth of all vegetables 
and plants. There are as fiue vegetables produced for home consump- 
tion as can be grown in any portion of the Union with little labor. Well 
water is found by digging from fifteen to twenty-five feet. It is pure 
freestone or mixed with lime, iron, copperas, alum. 

There can be bought almost any description of land here that is to be 
found anywhere in the State, and as productive. From the rich, loose, 
mellow ridges, easily cultivated and paying handsome returns, to the 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 89 



rich bottom and alluvial soil, which is inexhaustible, where immense 
crops of corn, cotton, sorghum and potatoes are produced in fabulous 
quantities. The rich hammock lauds only await the axe and spade to 
lay bare the untold productiveness of these hitherto neglected mines of 
wealth. The pine lands are easily brought into cultivation and pay 
large dividends. This soil is more sili< ions than any other to be found, 
and quite durable, lasting and producing fine crops for fifteen or twenty 
years without manure. 

Many large landholders have both improved and unimproved lands 
that they would dispose of readily; improved from $5 to $15, unim- 
proved from -f 1 to $5 per acre. 

Fruits and vegetables of all kinds which grow in the temperate zone 
are plentiful at all seasons. 

The labor upon large plantations is generally performed by negroes. 
The share system generally prevails, but when wages are given they 
range from $12 to $15 per month. 

Many white men cultivate small farms, with their own families, with 
an occasional hired hand. They are almost universally prosperous and 
out of debt, and are really the most independent class of people, raising 
their supplies at home. 

The health of this section will compare favorably with that of other 
portions of the South, and the climate is not subject to violent extremes 
of heat and cold. Foreigners and immigrants from other States already 
here have found no difficulty in held work at all seasons. The people 
desire immigration and will welcome all classes and creeds. 

All forms of religion are tolerated and encouraged, and ministers of 
the gospel are highly respected. 

Educational facilities are as good as any in the State. Public schools 
are kept open three to five months in the year. In most instances 
when the public schools close, private schools are continued during the 
remainder of the year. 

Market facilities are good. On the north, Vicksburg, Shreveport and 
Pacific Railroad, east. Bayou Macon, on the south and west, the Tensas 
river and Ouachita river. 

Churches, schools and other evidences of refinement and civilization 
are seen throughout the eutire section. 

Comparatively a small portion of these lands are cultivated. The 
section offers a grand field for capital and immigration, both of which 
Avould be welcomed b\ a kind, generous and hospitable people. 

LIVINGSON PARISH. 

The formation of the bluff lands in this parish is similar to that of 
East Batou Rouge. 

Most of the cultivated land lies along the Amite, Tickfaw and Bayou 
Barbary, Gray's creek and the Colyell. Its forests, which cover the 
largest division of its area, still abound in timber of great marketable 
value. In the eastern division, on the water-shed draining into the 
Tickfaw, the forests, although grow nig magnolia, beech, oak. gum and 
hickory in large quantities, are still interspersed with a considerable 
growth of pine. In the western division, or on the water-shed draining 
into the Amite river and Lake Maurepas, pine is rare, and magnolia, 
oak, beech, gum, hickory and cypress form the staple of forest growth. 
Along the margin of the lake there are some very productive farms 
under cultivation ; so. also on Bayou Barbary and its three prongs, on all 
of which soil of great natural fertility may be had in abundance at Gov- 
ernment prices, or at rates almost as cheap from the proprietors. 

Throughout the southwestern division, the productive wealth of the 
parish is derived chiefly from the forests and swamps, and this is the 



90 SOME LATE WORDS 

case as high, up as Port Vincent. The parish on the east extends into 
the long leaf pine flats. 

The Hon. H. Skipwith writes to the New Orleans Times- Democrat : 
"A few miles below Port Vincent, seated along the margin of the 
river Amite, is a hamlet universally styled ' the French settlement.' A 
cdte joyeuse, on which many descendants of Emigre's from La Belle 
France enact their happy role, composed almost of equal parts of work 
and fun, for so wags the world in the French settlement. Each habitant 
has his cane, corn, oats, rice and potato patch, occasionally, too, a patch 
of cotton, and each in almost equal proportions, (furthermore no ' cjrande 
home de province 1 in the French settlement), has his flock of goats and 
sheep, his hogs and his herd of cattle. Those enumerated are all behind 
him j in front he has as much good cypress timber as he can cut and 
float in the next half century. Altogether, with the combined products 
of his pastures, of his flocks and herds, and of his raids upon the cypress 
forests in front of him, I should say that the habitues of the French 
settlement can well afford to spend, as they do, every Saturday night in 
fiddling and dancing, and to enliven the interval between dances with a 
bottle or two of claret. It is an isolated colony, and there is no better 
community in the world. Some of their peculiar characteristics grow, 
perhaps, out of their isolation, viz : indifference about the great events 
which are stirring other parts of the world, dislike of anything which 
smacks of change, particularly in the matter of a reformation of reli- 
gions. Such a community, while reliable to make a resolute defense of 
its home interests, would probably contribute a scant quota to an army 
in the field. But with all its peculiarities, it is a happy, virtuous, law- 
abiding community. If it contributes not much to the revenues of the 
commonwealth, it costs the community nothing to enforce the public 
justice against its offenders, for it has none." 

From Lake Maurepas up to the Amite, as high as Port Vincent, there 
are lands in large bodies which in natural strength of soil are sur- 
passed only by the alluvial lands of the Mississippi valley — lands which 
in choice spots will produce two hogsheads of sugar, 2500 pounds of 
seed cotton, 35 barrels of corn and 50 bushels of rice to the acre. The 
same estimate of the capacity of the soil will apply to the fresh, 
well-drained lands of Port Vincent, up to the northern boundary of the 
parish; such lands are still to be found in large bodies along the Amite 
and in the valleys of Gray's creek and the Colyell. Much of the land, 
however, which is now cultivated, has been in cultivation for many 
years, and its capacity has b§en much reduced by years of neglect and 
maltreatment. 

EAST AND WEST FELICIANA PARISHES.* 

These parishes are bounded on the north by the State of Mississippi, 
on the 31° parallel of latitude. West Feliciana lies on the east bank of 
the Mississippi river, and contiguous to East Feliciana on the east. A 
narrow strip of land along the Mississippi river is alluvial, but the re- 
mainder of the parish is composed of bluff and good uplands, with the 
exception of a strip of East Feliciana, which extends into the long-leaf 
pine region on the east. 

There is, perhaps, no section in the United States that offers greater 
inducements to the settler than these parishes. Many of the negroes 
have left the high, healthy table lands for the alluvial bottoms, and 
there are many thousands of acres of old turned out fields, that have 
grown lip in wild grasses. These afford pasturage to cattle, sheep and 
hogs, which increase and multiply with very little care. 



not 



♦East Feliciana is placed l>y Loekett in the category of the "Good Uplands ;" but, as it is 
>t considered wise to dissociate it from Col, Harris' description, we give description here. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 91 



Lands may be bought, in small or large tracts, from $1 to $5 per acre. 
A citizen of this section writes: 

No part of Louisiana is favored with a more complete system of 
natural drainage, and away up on the Tunica hills there are landscapes 
as bold and imposing in their wild grandeur as the average of Switzerland 
scenery. These Tunica hills, besides their romantic beauty, possess a 
quality of soil as attractive to the eye of a practical farmer (they being 
knobs founded upon an inexhaustible limestone base) as beautiful land- 
scapes are to the eye of the transient sketcher; but even here the 
natural capacity of the soil, which is fully equal to one and a half hogs- 
heads of sugar, to one and a half bales of cotton, and to forty barrels of 
corn to the acre, is partially obscured by negligent and inadequate cul- 
tivation. 

Notwithstanding the admitted adaptability of the Tunica hills to the 
cultivation of the old style standards of cane, cotton and corn, the im- 
migrant, when lie conns, may— and I think he will — endeavor to apply 
the virtues of the limestone to orchards and vineyards, if thereby a 
more profitable industry can be evoked. 

The health of this, section is as good as that of any part of the United 
Stales. The people are intelligent, educated, refined and hospitable. 
Public and private schools and churches of all denominations are located 
in every neighborhood. Transportation facilities are afforded by the 
Mississippi river, and by the St. Francisville, Clinton and Port Hudson 
and Mississippi Valley Railroads. The county sites are St. Francisville 
and Clinton, both beautiful country towns, noted for the refinement and 
cultivation of the people. 

Fred. Bnto, an immigrant from Dantzig, West Prussia, is at the head 
of a prosperous German settlement near Clinton, East Feliciana parish. 

EAST BATON ROUGE. 

East Baton Rouge fronts the river one hundred and thirty miles above 
New Orleans. 

The city of Baton Rouge is the parish site and the capital of the 
State. It is built on the extreme southern point of bluff land that 
touches the Mississippi river and which exteuds south from the Alle- 
ghany mountains. 

The city of Baton Rouge was incorporated in 1820, and has a popula- 
tion of 8000 inhabitants. The parish was organized iu 1811, and has 
uovv about 21,000 inhabitants.* 

The lands along the Mississippi river are alluvial, of which about one- 
third are in cultivation, the remainder being pasturage and woodland. 
The timber found here is principally cypress, gum, oak and many small 
varieties of trees. The other portion of the parish is called the high- 
lands, that is. land not subject to inundation by the Mississippi river. 
The forest growth is of great variety, comprising all kinds of oak, gum. 
magnolia, poplar and beech, interspersed with much undergrowth. The 
soil is as various as the forest growth, ranging from poor to very fertile : 
but under the energetic manipulation of the progressive farmer, will 
yield a rich reward to the husbandman. 

Upon these lands all the staple crops are cultivated successfully, viz : 
cotton, cane, corn, potatoes, etc. The yield of cotton is one-half bale 
per acre, to one and a half bales. The yield of cane is one hogshead 
of sugar, to three, hogsheads per acre. The average per acre of corn is 
twenty bushels to forty. So with all productions of the, soil, the maxi- 
mum amount is made according to the quantity of fertilizer and the 
quality of brain used. The city of Baton Rouge affords a very limited 

*Tki8 estimate was made several years ago. 



92 SOME LATE WORDS 

market for the products of the parish, the principal market being New 
Orleans and the Western cities. 

There are many small streams passing through and bordering on the 
parish, which afford sufficient drainage to all its lands. They are the 
Amite, Comite, Manchac, Bayou Fountain, Ward's creek, Moutesano, 
White's bayou, Redwood, Blackwater, Sandy creek, and many other 
minor water courses. In these streams are to be found many kinds of 
fish and water-fowl. 

The health of the parish has always been regarded good. The mili 
tary post located at Baton Rouge shows the best health record of any 
post in the Southwest. The thermometer rarely rises above 90°, or falls 
below 20° F., and when either extreme is reached, it lasts but a few 
days. The leading nationalities of the world are represented in our 
population. The English, French and German languagues being spoken 
principally — the English being the language in which business is trans- 
acted. The general character of the people is quiet and industrious, 
and they would give a hearty welcome to all immigrants who are like- 
wise disposed. 

There is land for sale and rent. In all cases they are reasonable. 

The principal religious denominations of this parish are the Catholic, 
Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Baptist and Israelite. All have 
places of worship in the town, and some in the various neighborhoods in 
the parish. Educational facilities are very good. The State University 
and Mechanical and Industrial colleges are located at Baton Rouge, 
under the direction of an able corps of professors, where all the branches 
of a polite and practical education can be acquired at a small cost, be- 
sides other male and female seminaries quite adequate to the wants of 
the community. Public schools are in a progressive condition and are 
supplemented in every neighborhood by private schools. In addition to 
this there are two State institutions that deserve notice, viz : the Insti- 
tute for the Blind and the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. 

The facilities for reaching market with manufactured and agricultural 
products are unsurpassed. The parish lies for nearly forty miles upon 
the Mississippi river, affording daily communication with New Orleans 
and the Western cities. The New Orleans and Pacific Railroad affords 
communication with the Pacific States, and the Mississippi Valley runs 
direct to Memphis and New Orleans. The southern portion of the 
parish carries on an extensive trade with New Orleans by steamer across 
the lakes, up the Amite river to Hope Villa. The "small planters" 
produce from ten to fifty hogsheads of sugar, and have been so success- 
ful as to have attracted market attention. John Picou, one of the 
pioneers in this section in this industry, has never produced less than 
two hogsheads of sugar and frequently three hogsheads per acre. 

Wages for an expert field hand, on sugar plantations, are $18 per 
month and rations. Where the share system is adopted, as on cotton 
plantations, the laborer gets of what he produces one-third and rations, 
or one-half and feeds himself. Good mechanics get $3 per day, and are 
in demand. 

A source of considerable profit to the planting and farming community 
is stock raising. Though not pursued as a separate business, is followed 
to some extent by every farmer. It is a business in which nearly all is 
profit. Nearly evei'y one has his herd of cattle and hogs. These cost 
nothing for the raising, except herding, marking and branding, and 
this can be done without encroaching upon the time to be devoted to 
agricultural pursuits. There is a good market for all the butter the 
good housewife can make, so that as a collateral pursuit, stock raising is 
profitable adjunct to farming operations. 

There is probably no place in Louisiana offering greater advantages 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 93 



for the establishment of factories of various kinds, than the City of 
Baton Rouge. Situated in a healthy locality, on land never subject to 
overflow, with a fertile country around it, upon the Mississippi river, 
and connected with the vast country lying west of that river by the 
Southern Pacific Railroad, it would seem to be marked out by nature for 
an eminent future, the realization of which is near at hand. Here stands 
the immense building of the Louisiana Penitentiary ; within those walls 
me contained the best of machinery for the manufacture of woolen and 
cotton goods, with 200 looms and the necessary appliances for a com- 
plete factory. This factory can be leased on very favorable terms. An 
"opportunity is here afforded to capitalists of very rare occurrence. The 
country around would furnish all the cotton necessary at one-half cent 
less than New Orleans prices, and with a population of 8000 inhabitants, 
the City of Baton Rouge would furnish all the operatives necessary for 
a factory of 400 looms. 

There is established here a cotton seed oil mill, and so lucrative has 
been the business that the proprietors are erecting additional apparatus 
for refining the oil. 

In iron work there is a factory engaged in the manufacture of sugar 
machinery, steam trains, evaporators, etc. 

There is room enough for several of these factories. For the support 
of the operatives engaged in these factories, the country will afford an 
abundance of vegetables and fruits at reasonable prices. 



We now introduce some matter on the prairie parishes. It is enti- 
tled " The Soil and Products of Southwestern Louisiana, including the 
Parishes of St. Landry, Lafayette, Vermilion, St. Martin's, Iberia and 
St. Mary's." It was issued by the United States Department of Agri- 
culture in the year 1884, and written by R. E. Rapley, special agent: 

Seventy-three miles west of the city of New Orleans, the Morgan, 
Louisiana and Texas Railroad erosses the Bayou Boeuf, the eastern 
boundary of the parish of St. Mary's, and several miles farther west is 
Brashear City, on Berwick's Bay.' About 110 miles west of Berwick's 
Bay is the mouth of the river Mermentau, which receives the waters of 
the Nez Pique, through the Upper Mermentau, Lake Arthur and Lake 
Mermentau. The river and lakes form the western boundary of the 
parishes of St. Landry* and Vermilion. From the northern boundary 
of St. Landry to the Gulf coast the distance is about 100 miles, and 
from Belle river, the eastern line of the parish of Iberia, to Lake 
Arthur, the western limit of the parish of Vermilion, the distance is 
about 80 miles. The southern boundary of these parishes is in latitude 
almost halt a degree south of the latitude of New Orleans. The 
northern limit of St. Landry reaches latitude 31°, near the true cotton 
belt of the Southern States.' The, five parishes, St. Mary. Iberia, Ver- 
milion, St. Martin and Lafayette, were originally called Attakapas, and 
are now called Attakapas parishes. The name was taken from one of 
the Indian tribes that inhabited this country. 

All trees here grow to an enormous size. I measured a live-oak 
stump which was J) feet in diameter. Cypress furnishes the lumber for 
the country. Being light and durable, when pressed and polished it 
makes very rich trimmings, and. in fact, nearly all the liner classes of 
houses are finished wit h it . 

The trees are all draped with moss, which grows in great abundance, 
and forms one of the industries of this country, and really makes the 

*Of Acadia now. 



94 SOME LATE WORDS 

laboring man independent ; for a man with ordinary industry can easily 
earn from $1 50 to $2 50 per day gathering and preparing it for sale. The 
market appears to be as certain as our wheat market. 

SOIL. 

The prairie and all the level lands I visited in this locality are of allu- 
vial origin, with a surface soil of from 3 to 4 feet of almost inexhautible 
fertility, formed and kept up by the annual decay of vegetable matter 
and overflows from higher altitudes. Some of this land will produce four 
crops of hay a year. I allude to Bermuda grass, which makes the best 
hay that is made in this section.. A slight variation is found in the sub- 
soil. Mr. Jefferson informed me that he dug through clay at a depth of 
2 feet from the surface in sinking his wells on the prairies, to be worked 
by windmills. In this vast prairie, containing three or four millions 
acres, there is a series of islands that are not surrounded by large and 
distinct rivers, but by bayous, which are simply little streams that 
drain them and part of the adjacent prairie. On these islands the soil 
is good and easy to cultivate, but of course" not so rich or so deep as 
that of the prairies. As a general rule the soil runs as follows : First, 
rich vegetable mold from four to six inches deep, next loam, then 
Band, and lastly clay. So far as the soil is concerned, I know of nothing 
that could not be raised here, except timothy f and some small fruits that 
fail in midsummer if the season be dry. 

Although the prairies are wet during the winter and spring months, 
you never find them sour or boggy, and the sweet, nutritious grass never 
ceases to grow, and I have noticed the cattle foraging when the surface 
was covered u'lh water. In going from place to place the residents 
drive right tlrr -'igh the ponds and lakes after heavy rains in March in 
preference to gsiing around them. No matter how deep they look to be, 
there is but little deviation from the level. The wheels hardly ever sink 
beyond the depth of 2 or 3 inches, even when wagons are loaded. The 
manner in which these prairie lands is drained is by open ditches' cut to 
natural ponds, as they are termed by the natives, or to the bayous. It 
would be impossible to drain these soils by blind ditches. There is 
almost an endless variety of vegetables grown here, and the house gar- 
dens can be so planted as to yield fresh vegetables of some kind the 
year round. They all seem to grow to perfection, and yield abundantly. 
I will give more in detail of the list of vegetables, the yield and manner 
of cultivation, in my report of the different parishes. The people live 
largely upon sweet potatoes and yams, together with fish and game. It 
seemed to be the market gardens only that were stocked with any great 
variety of vegetables. It was a very agreeable sight to see how 
thoroughly these gardeners attended to their crops after noticing with 
what carelessness the farmers attended to their kitchen gardens. 

Not much wheat is grown. The yield of straw is very heavy ; the 
yield of grain generally light. They sow nothing but Spring wheat. 

Farmers turn their cattle on the grain fields, chiefly oats, about the 
middle of February, and let them graze two or three weeks. This fur- 
nishes good pasture and does not seem to interfere with the yield. I 
failed to obtain the average yield, but in reply to my questions a farmer 
told me he expected to make at least forty bushels to the acre. The 
Texas ot other rust-proof varieties are generally sown, because they are 
best adapted to the climate and less susceptible to rust and insects. 
Rye is soldom grown for the grain, but is sometimes sown in the fall for 
winter and spring pasturage. When grain is sown in the fall the land is 
thrown up in dead furrows ; that is, throwing it up in beds about eigh- 

tThia is an error. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 95 



teen or twenty feet wide, with an open or dead furrow between, which 
holds the water during a wet season. 

Corn is planted in rows or ridges, five and a half feet apart. They 
call them ridges because they are thrown up very high. These drain 
the top very thoroughly, and the crop is kept moist by the water re- 
maining in the furrows until the season is pretty well advanced. All 
the fields I noticed seemed to be only one way ; I mean they are not 
crossed-plowed, as I have generally seen corn worked. The corn, when 
gathered, is housed iu the shuck. 

CATTLE RATSING. 

One of the principal industries of this locality is raising cattle for the 
butcher, and very little attention is paid to growing tine stock for dairy 
purposes. 

Cattle raising could be made more profitable than it is by dividing the 
prairies into smaller pasture fields and by cutting and curing thousands 
of tons of hay that go to waste, to be fed from the rack when the pas- 
turage grows short. During at least nine months in the year the grass 
is so strong and luxuriant that the cattle tramp down and destroy more 
than they consume. It has only recently been discovered that the sea 
marsh in this part of Louisiana affords as good pasturage as there is in 
the world. Strong, nutritious grass grows in great abundance, resem- 
bling very much in taste and appearanfie what is known in the middle 
States as red top, only a little taller and as thick as it can stand. From 
as near an estimate as I could make, if cut and cured, which could be 
easily done in the proper season, it would yield five tons of good hay 
per acre. There are thousands of acres of the sea marsh that could be 
most profitably used by those owning the prairie or higher land adjoin- 
ing it. I am writing from personal observation having ridden over it on 
horseback in perfect safety. The only obstruction to guard against are 
inuskrat holes, but for a pasture for at least six mouths in the year, 
without expenditure, it cannot be excelled. I see no reason to prevent 
them from using it longer, it" they will build sheds to protect their cattle 
in midsummer. Some of the natives say that the mosquitoes would 
kill them in the spring season, but this I doubt, for there is always a 
strong Gulf breeze. 

Deer are to be found here in great numbers, also wild cattle and 
hogs. 

There is no danger from floods from the higher countries, for by in- 
quiry from the oldest inhabitants, and these I could rely on for the most 
accurate information, there has been no overflow for twenty-three 
years, and then the water reached the depth of about 10 inches, by 
backing up from the Gulf of Mexico and meeting the floods from the 
higher lands, remaining but a short time and then flowing off rapidly. 
Even in cases of an overflow, there are spots elevated above the com- 
mon level on which they can go for safety. During the winter season 
the marsh is covered with a heavy growth of the season previous, which 
makes very good hay, being perfectly clean, free from rust or mould, 
and we noticed our horses are it whenever we gave them the opportu- 
nunity. But the cattle seemed to prefer the green spring growth which 
is just making its way through the root. It has a sweet with a very 
salty taste. 1 saw lots of cattle that were turned on the marsh in 
December when they were there and in bad condition. They are now 
looking tine and healthy, and nine-tenths of them seal fat. 

This sea-marsh land is very cheap, and yet it is better pasture, in 
winter especially, than the prairie lands that command ten times the 
price. The cattle-dealers who own sea-marsh and the adjoining high- 
lands and prairie, have, a great advantage over those in the Middle and 



96 SOME LATE WORDS 

Western States, for there is no need of fertilizer of any kind, no outlay 
for shelter, and very little need of fencing. If they fence at all, it is by 
sticking green willow poles. It seems to make little difference whether 
they be the main stock or branches. They immediately take root. On 
these they stretch the wire, with stakes driven down along the line to 
strengthen it. As the fencing is cheaply done, the older it gets the 
stronger it is. Those who use the sea-marsh as a cattle range drive 
them off in the latter part of August. At this season the heavy spring 
and summer growth has fully matured and begins to dry, when it is 
burned, to be out of the way of the coming crop. This grows rapidly 
and furnishes good pasture about the time the prairie shows the effect of 
midsummer, especially if the hot season be long and dry. 

In the native cattle there can still be seen traces of the old Spanish 
breed, with enormously long and wide-spreading horns, narrow chests, 
high thinks, and deeply sunken backbones. All the characteristics 
requisite for good breeding animals are absent. The stock-raisers say 
that these cattle are so thoroughly acclimated that it is a rare thing to see 
disease or sickness of any kind among them, and requiring so little at- 
tention, they look upon them as the most profitable. Past experience 
teaches tlieni it is a mistake to import old cattle in order to improve the 
breed, for then invariably die off. The few that live after the first year 
have made these efforts to improve stock expensive and unprofitable. 
Some are now adopting a new method, and I think, the right one, from 
what I saw. It is importing calves as soon as they are old enough to 
leave the cow Some attention must be paid to them for the first sea- 
son. They will then thrive and do as well as the native cattle. 

I had the pleasure of seeing the finest lot of registered Holstein calves 
that I have ever seen. The owner says they are doing well and looking 
better than the herd from which he bought them in New York. They 
are about ten months old, and are as large as any of the Alderney cows 
on the plantation. This herd is on Mr. J. Jefferson's plantation. He 
also has a herd of about forty registered short horns, and some fine 
specimens of the Aberdeen Angus breed. He is very favorably im- 
pressed witli the HolsteiUs and thinks they are the cattle for the coun- 
try. His efforts will be, of great value to the people in that locality. 

The following list of fruits and vegetables is given in Dennett 
Plums, figs, quince, pears, cherries, grapes, pawpaws, persimmons, 
pecans, hickory-nuts, walnuts, blackberries, dewberries', may-apples, 
mulberries, crab-apples, black and red haws, chincapins, strawberries 
and some other fruits; nuts and other fruits of little importance thrive 
and mature well in these parishes. In Saint Mary's and along the coast 
to the Meimentau, oranges are raised yearly in great abundance,* and 
the Mespilus or Japan plum, lemons, limes, bananas and pineapples may 
be produced in the open air as high up as Franklin by giving them a 
little extra attention in the winter 

Turnips, cabbage, melons, and all other garden vegetables grow as 
well in these parishes as they do-north of the Ohio river. 

The best winter gardens contain large white-head cabbage, rutabagas 
and flat turnips, onions, esehallots, garlic, -mustard, .oquette, radishes, 
cauliflowers, beets, cress, lettuce, parsley, leeks, English peas, celery, 
endive, etc. These thrive well in the garden all winter, except in very 
cold winters, where those fartherest inland suffer a little from frost. But 
this occurs so seldom that thev have less fear from the drouth injuring 
our crops than ii< the Middle States. 

'We would caution the leader agaiust regarding the aria in question, as a reliable orauge 
belt. 



G a 



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nEAUTIKUL is the hit 
its prairies and forests 
trees, 

Under the feet a garden of 
and the bluest of heave 

Bending above, and rest 
dome c.n the wall of the 

They who dwell there have 



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CflliCflSIE 



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ALCASIEU PARISH, 

situated in the famous 

<§><§>+<»<$> ana country, lying alt 

line and being separate 

y Sabine river. It is tl 

in the state, having a total a 

acres. 

RIVERS. 

The Sabine river serves as ii 
and the Mermentau serves print 
ern border. The Calcasieu rive 
trally through the parish from n< 
empties into the Gulf of Mexico 
which is now being improved b' 
as a harbor. This magnificent ri 
a number of smaller rivers whit 
just above the city of Lake Chi 
sieu is navigable for the largest s 
the point where these rivers con 
southern boundary, the river be 
sixty feet deep and several hu' 
The smaller streams above the p< 
gether are navigable for many m 
boats that run up them for the p 
logs to the various sawmills situ; 
and lakes around the city of Laki 



DIVISION 

TIMBER. 

From the confluence of these r 
boundary of the parish is the tii 
the parish. This embraces more 
the parish. Along the variou 

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IlEAUTIKUL is tile land with 
its prairies and forests ol fruil 

Under the feet a garden of flowers, 

and the bluest of heavens 
Bending above, and resting its 

dome ..„ the wall ol the forests. 
Thej who dwell there ha\ e named 

it the Eden of Louisiana. 

Longfellow's l<rii„,„li„, 



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'ppESEHreo B r JVIISS DEllbfl A. H^ALi, parish o ftEQ , Te . 

> HEADQUARTERS : •-< 



V PARISH, LiOUlSIflfifl. 



LOUISIANA, is 
Southwest Louisi- 
•ngside the Texas 
d from it by the 
le largest parish 
rea of 2,153,600 



s western border 
•i pally as its east- 
r runs nearly cen- 
>rth to south, and 
at Calcasieu Pass, 
V the government 
ver is made up of 
•h come together 
irles. The Calca- 
tcam vessels from 
le together to the 
ing from forty to 
ndred feet wide. 
>int of coming to- 
iles for small tug 
nrpose of towing 
ited on the river 
' ( Iharles. 



rf. 



ivers to the north 

ibered section of 

than one-half of 

s streams which 

nrj ri 1711 lota iro t (l 



region first begins there appear small patches of 
prairie hid from view except to those who travel 
across the country. West of the Calcasieu river 
the Southern Pacific Railway runs near where the 
timber ends and the prairie begins. The road, how- 
ever, running straight, and the prairie and timber 
making a zigzag line, causes the road to cross num- 
bers of small prairies and patches of timber. 
About twenty miles west of the Calcasieu river on 
this railway, namely, near Edgerly, and from there 
on to Vinton a vast prairie region may be seen 
looking south from the railway train. East of the 
Calcasieu river the prairie is more extensive. The 
Southern Pacific passes through almost entire 
prairie and it extends far north of the road and 
along the line of the Kansas City, Watkins & Gulf 
railway, and extends south to the southern boun- 
dary. 

THE LAY OF THE LAND. 

The pine wood section of the parish is com- 
paratively level, except the northern boundary, 
where it breaks into small hills. The prairie 
region is also level in appearance. By use of the 
level, however, in running over the surface, one 
finds ridges in it a mile or more apart, the ground 
in the center being from four to seven or eight 
feet lower than the ridges which serve for drain- 
age. 

CLIMATE. 

The climate is exceedingly delightful, the tem- 
perature ranging from 40 to 70 degrees in winter, 
and from SO to 90 degrees in the summer, rarely 
going higher than 90 degrees. The rapid evap- 
oration from the gulf cools the atmosphere to 
about 80 degrees. At this temperature it is driven 
over the land by the atmospheric currents, becom- 
ing slightly elevated by the higher temperature of 
the earth. It is thus always cool and delightful 
in the shade, even in the warmest weather. North- 
ern men can work on the farm all summer. 



i 



years. 



In fan 



ditions are obsi 
air from the pi 
exceedingly b< 
weak lungs, < 
nervous prosti 
fever has been 
effective quara 
the rural dist 
seventeen yeai 



The soil va 
ish. In the 
loam on a gra 
it also varies, 
sandy loam, tl 
the lower lane 



Nearly all i 
do well here 
lettuce, turnip 
profusely, 
once planted 
and climate a 
fruits grow w 
their season 
most localiti* 
strong and hi 
a very fine q 
in some port 
lake borders, 

+in<l o remix? 1 



•sasod.uul Si 
apraui iCpsM 
A.mssaaau .1 
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CALC 

rapid increase in rice acreage. In 18! 
were planted. This was doubled in 
1892 the acreage reached to about 5( 
1880 to 1890 the state increased in < 
cent, while the parish of Calcasieu 
enormous increase of 562 per cent, an 



Diagram Shoiuing ti 
1882 



I 



CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA. 



CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, is 
situated in the famous Southwest Louisi- 
^*+*«. ana country, lying alongside the Texas 
■ I'm,' and being separated from ii by the 
Sabine river. It is the largest parish 
state, having a total area of 2,153,000 



* 



RIVERS. 

The Sahine river serves as its western border 
and the Mormentau servos principally as its east- 
ern border. The Calcasieu river runs nearly con- 
trail} through the parish from north to south, and 
empties into tho ' ■nil' of Mexioo at < laloasiou Pass, 
which is now being improved ty the governmom 
as a harbor, This magnifleont river is made up of 
a number of smaller rivers which come together 
just abovo the city of Lake Qlnirles, The Galea 
sien is navigable tor the largost steam vessels from 
the point where these rivors oome together to the 
southern boundary, the river being from forty to 
sixty feet deep and several hundred feet wide. 
The smaller stroamB above the point of coining to- 
gether are navigable I'm- many miles for small lug 

boats that run up thorn for the purpose of tow ; 

logs to tho various sawmills situated on the river 
and lakes around tho cilv of hake Charles. 



DIVISIOKT3. 



TIMBER. 



From the oonfliionoo of ih.se rivers to the north 
boundary of tho parish is tho timbered section ..I' 
the parish, This embraces more than one hall of 
'he parish, Along the various streams which 
■In i ; '• .t ii, I subdivide into creeks^ ■ t rivulets, are to 
lie found van. .lis hard «,.,., I liiul.er. snel. as mac 
UOlia, Leech, ,.ak, ash, gum, hickory, holly, elm. 

ohorrj ami cypress. Between those rivulets ami 
orookB are vast sootioiiB of country, sometimes 

eight or ten milosaoross, thiokh set w ith the I 

leal yellow piue and ourlv pine whioh has aT 
traoted somuoh attention during the las! ton years. 

PRAIRIE. 

Prom the oonfluenoe of these rlvws south i- the 
pvame portion of the parish. Where lh»p™irie 



region first begins there appear small patches of 

prairie hid from view except to those who travel 

across the country. West, of the Calcasieu river 
the Southern Pacific Railway runs near where the 
timber ends and the prairie begins. The road, how- 
ever, running straight,, and the prairie and timber 
making a zigzag line, causes the road to eross num- 
bers of small prairies and patches of timber. 

Al f twenty miles west, of the Calcasieu river on 

this railway, namely, near Edgerly, and from there 
on to Vinton a vast, prairie region may he seen 
looking south from the railway train. East of the 
Calcasieu river the prairie is more extensive. The 
Southern Pacifio passes through almost entire 
prairie ami it extends far north of the road and 
alone; the line of the Kansas City, Watkins & Gulf 
railway, and extends south to the .southern boun- 
dary. ' 

THE LAY OF THE LAND. 

'I'he pine wood section of the parish is com- 
paratively level, except the northern boundary, 
where ii breaks into small hills. The prairie 
region is also level in appearance. By use of the 
level, however, in running over the surface, one 
finds ridges in it a mile or more apart, the ground 
in the center being from four to seven or eight 
feel lower than the ridges which serve for drain- 



Thc climate is exceedingly delightful, the tem- 
perature ranging from 40 to 711 degrees in winter, 
and from so to '.if, degreeB in the summer, rarely 
going higher than 90 degrees. The rapid evap 
oration from the gulf cools the atmosphere to 
about so degrees. At this temperature it is driven 
over the land by the atmospheric currents, becom- 
ing slightly elevated by tile higher temperature of 
the earth. It is thus always 'cool and delightful 

ill the shade, even iii the wannest weather. North- 
ern men can work on the farm all summer. 

THE RAINFALL. 

The rainfall is al.oul sixty inches, .list rilniled 

pretty evonlj throughout the, year with, perhaps 
locate.' moisture during the winter. Kami work 
is seldom interrupted by the rains. 

HEALTHFULNESS. 

'I'he general excellent healthfulness of this 

country is unquestioned by the northern settlers, 
main ol whom have l.een here lor a numbei "t 



CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA. 

rapid increase in rice acreage. In '800 8000 acres d Jam-am O i,„„,o „ „ j 1 1 . , 

were planted. Tins was doubled in 1891, and h S! *?>,?, g ? , \ "'""'•' '' Hte ° f , i,,C, ' ease 

1892 the acreage reached to about 50,000 From •„ J, "'£ ^ '^ *?, yem >. V^lT T* 

1880 to 1890 the state increased in wealth 40 pt bee n paid e ti o ?'. ' P*™* **» has 

„„ ,. i.-i ii ■ t c /-i i i , J ueen paiu, a nne brick court house with lire nrnnf 

cent, while the parish of Calcasieu reached the vaults, and a brick jail have be,.,, ere! ted and libem 

enormous increase of 562 per cent, and lead all the appropriations made every year foi r school !,„„•,, oses. 

Diagram Shoeing the Assessment in the Parish of Caleasieu from 
1882 to 1892, tuith Estimate of 1893. 



1882. 

$1,991,085 



1883. 

$2,333,065 



1885. 

$3,018,570 



1886. 

5,191,125 



1887. 

$,479,130 



1888. 

$4,060,775 



1880. 

$4,300,330 



1890. 

$5,738,550 



1891. 

>5, 864,455 



1892. 

3,457,430 



1893. 
!7,150,000 



parishes in the state. You will notice in the dia- These appropriations have been annually increased 

gram the assessed value of the parish in is.su was and at the same time annually for three years the 

a little over $1,000,000. The rate of taxes was 10 rate of taxes has been reduced from ten to seven 

mills, and there was a debt of over $8000 on the mills. The last year finds the treasury with a 

parish. At that time no support was given by the good cash balance above all other necessary 

parish for public school purposes, depending en- appropriations, and the police hoard wisely made 

tirelyon the amount obtained from the state. The a liberal appropriation for road building purposes. 



/ 



ASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA. 

)0 8000 acres diagram shows a gradual, healthy rate of increase 

1891, and in annually. During the last ten years, without any 

),000. From increase in the rate of taxes, the parish debt has 

vealth 40 per been paid, a tine brick court house with lire proof 

reached the vaults, and a brick jail have been erected and liberal 

d lead all the appropriations made every year for school purposes. 



f»e Assessment in the Parish of Calcasieu from 
to 1892, uuith Estimate of 1893. 



1882. 

$1,991,085 



1883. 

$2,333,065 



1885. 

$3,018,570 



1886. 

$3,191,125 



1887. 

$3,479,130 



1888. 

$4,060,775 



1889. 

$4,300,330 



1890. 

$5,738,550 



1891. 

$5,864,455 



1892. 

$6,457,430 



1893. 






ABOUT LOUISIANA. 97 



ST. MARTIN'S PARISH. 

The extreme length of the parish of St. Martin's is '24 mileR, and its 
width averages about 18. It contains about 400 square miles of rich 
prairie, swamps, lands heavily timbered, and tillable lands, covered 
with the finest body of timber in the State, suitable for sugar, wood, 
building purposes, cabinet, wagons, plows, and all kinds of wooden- 
ware. The parish is bounded on the north by St. Landry, by Lafayette 
on the west, Iberia on the south, and Iberville on the east. 

THE TECHE LANDS. 

The Bayou Teche enters St. Martin's at its junction with Bayou Fu- 
silier at Amandaville, formerly called Leonville, and meandering 
through the parish, enters the parish of Iberia, six miles below the town 
of St. Martinville, near Lake Tasse, thirty-five miles from Amanda- 
ville. 

The tillable land from St. Martinville, east of the Teche, is 18 miles in 
width, including all the land between this bayou and Catahoula lake. 
At Amandaville the tillable land on the east side of the bayou is three 
miles iu width. The average width of the tillable land on the east side 
of this bayou, in its entire course through the parish, is over five miles, 
and its average width on the west side of the Teche is three miles. In 
places, in the great bends of the bayou, will be found some of the 
largest sugar plantations in the State. In our estimation, it is difficult 
to overrate either the beauty or the merits of this portion of Attakapas. 

RICH SOIL. 

The richness of the soil is proverbial, for it possesses all the qualities 
that are essential and desirable in any soil — drainage, ease of cultiva- 
tion, its lasting fertility in the production of sugar, cotton, rice, corn, 
tobacco, indigo, or any other crop now grown or ever grown in the same 
latitude. Fruits, melons, potatoes, cabbages, turnips, and the whole 
list of field, garden, and orchard products can be realized. No portion 
of Louisiana can excel that of the valley of the Teche, in the parish of 
St. Martin's. 

FORESTS. 

From the open prairie, which runs parallel with and near the Teche, 
to the Atchafalaya, the eastern Hunts of St. Martin, it is almost an un- 
broken forest of the finest timber in Louisiana. 

In the swamps of the Atchafalaya there are millions of cypress tree*, 
tall, straight, and many of them from three to four feet in diameter. 
Between these swamps and the Teche prairie, on the tillable lands, there 
is an immense unbroken forest of oak, gum, hickory, black walnut, 
magnolia, live-oak, white, red, and other oaks, lime, pecan, sycamore, 
and other wild growths of less importance. On the west side of tho 
Teche, in the rear of the open prairie, extending from Bayou Fusilier 
and the Upper Vermilion, down Bayou Tortue to Lake Tasse, there is a 
forest of swamps, cypress, and also of oak and gum, and other tree* 
which grow on dry and tillable lands. Both banks of the Teche are 
skirted with fine forests. 

THE VALE OF THE TECHE. 

The lines of swelling forests in the rear take the place of hills, iu 
helping to form the valley of the Teche. This bayou, in its course 
through St. Martin, is extremely beautiful, in many respects more beau- 
tiful than the Lower Teche, as it meanders through St. Mary. Its first 
banks, on both sides at St. Martinsville, are nearly twenty feet high. 
The banks of the bayou have a slope of less than thirty degrees to the 
water's edge. The banks give the bayou everywhere the appearance of 
a high canal. The water is not more than two and a half or three feet 



CALCASIEU PARISH, 10U1 



years. In families whore ordinary sanitary con- 
ditions are observed sickness seldom enters. The 
air from the pine forests is laden with properties 
exceedingly beneficial to persons suffering from 
weak lungs, etc., while rheumatism, catarrh and 
nervous prostration are scarcely known. Yellow 
fever has been almost unknown in Louisiana since 
effective quarantine has been established, none in 
the rural districts. We have had no cases for 
seventeen years. 

SOIL. 

The soil varies in various portions of the par- 
ish. In the timber portion it is mostly sandy 
loam on a gray or red clay subsoil. In the prairie 
it also varies, from a black sandy loam to a grayish 
sandy loam, the ridges containing more sand than 
the lower lands. 

PRODUCTS. 

Nearly all farm and garden crops and vegetables 
do well here. Onions, beets, cabbages, tomatoes, 
lettuce, turnips, etc., do splendidly andean be grown 
profusely. Strawberries grow finely here, and 
once planted are hard to kill, so well are the soil 
and climate adapted to their culture. Many small 
fruits grow wild. Blackberries and dewberries in 
their season are abundant. Peaches do well in 
most localities, while pears are usually of very 
strong and healthy growth, producing abundantly 
a very fine quality. Oranges do exceedingly well 
in some portions, especially along the river and 
lake borders, producing an excellent quality, which 
find a ready market at good prices. The lack of 
transportation has hitherto retarded material^ the 
culture of fruits and vegetables for commercial 
purposes, but now that an outlet to the northern 
markets has been secured, by the Kansas City, 
Watkins & Gulf Railway, their culture has been 
much accelerated, and while few large orchards 
and gardens are as yet producing, the question of 
profits is settled, and we confidently expect that 
ere long the business of growing vegetables for the 
northern markets will very profitably engage the 
attention of a large number. In the way of field 
crops, sugar cane, rice, cotton and hay are in the lead. 

STOCK. 

Stock of all kinds does well here with moderate 
attention. The cattle business is immense, as the 
assessor's report shows for the year 1892, 80,000 
head. 

The sheep industry is also profitable, there 
being 12,000 head reported. 

POPULATION. 

The population is now estimated at 25,000, 
having doubled itself since 1880. 



The city of Lake Charles is most favorably 
located for a city of considerable dimensions, and 
at the present rate of building it will soon be there. 



SI ANA, 



In the spaco from New Orleans to Houston, which 
is a distance of nearly 400 miles, there must be 
somewhere dear the center of this territory a city 
of immense business. The city of Lake Charles is 
the place. Jit is located on the Southern Pacific 
railway, and having communication \>y water 
through the Calcasieu river to the gulf, and 
recently a direct North outlet by the Kansas City, 
Watkins & Gulf Kailway, there is everything in 
its favor. Like the parish it has had a steady, 
healthy growth, reaching from 800 inhabitants in 
1880 to an estimate of 7000 now. Taking the 
percentage of growth during the last census and 
making the calculation from that, the next census 
will sliow a population of 23,000. Lake Charles 
has added the following since 1880 — indeed the 
most of these industries of which we will mention 
have been added since 1888: Ice factory, electric 
lights, water works, a steam laundry, three banks, 
each having its own substantial buildings, street 
car line, two dummy lines, a college, a large public 
school building, having a graded school with nine 
teachers, and sustaining nine months' public term; 
churches of every denomination, novelty wood 
works, rice mills, car shops and a sugar refinery. 
The commercial interests of the city have made 
wonderful progress. Her wholesale merchants 
are now supplying a trade from the Teche on the 
east to a considerable distance in Texas, and also 
north and south for many miles. Then there are 
other towns in the parish, many of which were not 
in existence in the census of 1880. To give some 
idea of the progress of the parish, there were only 
about two postottiees outside of Lake Charles in 
the whole parish in 1870; now there are thirty-six. 
Jennings, not known ten years ago, now has a 
population of 1000. Westlake now claims a popu- 
lation of 800. Welsh, Lake Arthur, Edgerly, 
Sulphur City, Iowa, Vinton, Penton and Oberlin 
are all small towns but most of them will number 
several hundred inhabitants. 

PROGRESS. 

To give some idea of the progress being made 
we give on another page a diagram showing the 
increase in assessments since 1880, and which will 
serve as an object lesson for the reader. In 1880 
the lumber interest was the leading feature of 
Calcasieu. At that time there were only 14,000 
acres of land in cultivation in the parish; now 
there is reported 400,000 acres, showing 
the agricultural interests have developed at a 
greater ratio than anything else. The rice indus 
try, which has attracted such widespread interest, 
leads the agricultural crops of the parish. In 1880 
there was only 600 acres planted in rice, and it 
was principally in small patches and harvested 
with the old fashioned reap hook. The planting 
of rice continued at a moderate rate until the 
western man, who had been used to harvesting 
his wheat with the self-binder, took it into his 
head he could harvest rice in the same way. An 
attempt was made, and by an improvement in the 
machinery it was made a success. Then began a 



$8 SOME LATE WOftDS 

deep in summer and autumn, and the surface is but fifty or sixty feet 
wide, but for about six months in the year it is navigable for small 
steamers. One lock at St. Martinsville would render the bayou naviga- 
ble to the junction the year round. 

THE FOREST OE THE TECHE. 

The scenery all along on both banks of the Teche from St. Martinsville 
to the junction, a distance of thirty miles, is the most charming and 
magnificent we have ever seen in any part of the United States. 

The forest trees on both banks, the magnolia, ash, live-oak, red, 
white and other oaks, black walnut, lime, gum, pecan, hickory, syca- 
more and other trees; all tall, graceful and of generous growth. On 
thousands of acres the grass grows on a smooth surface under the noble 
brandies of the magnificent trees. These lands are far more beautiful 
than the famous woodland pastures of Kentucky; the trees have a 
more luxuriant growth, the foliage is richer and hangs out in the broad 
branches in a more generous abundance. And the soil is rich beyond 
anything we saw in the great West. It is the cleanest looking country 
I have ever seen. The beautiful smooth prairies look as though they 
had just been washed. The fat herds grazing upon these green ex- 
panses help in giving the finishing touch to this magnificent landscape 
scenery. 

FRUITS. 

Just here I will take occasion to say that peaches seem to thrive par- 
ticularly well in this parish ;* yield certain, prolific, and of the finest 
flavor, and grow very large and perfect in shape. They are finer, and 
do not rot so soon after being picked as those grown farther north. 
They command a high price in the New Orleans market. 

POULTRY. 

Large flocks of poultry are found on the prairie, for in this warm cli- 
mate very little shelter is needed for them, and they find plenty of in- 
sects and grass-seed to keep them in good condition. They produce a 
bountiful supply of eggs, .which are consequently very cheap. They 
sometimes sell as low as five cents per dozen, and never more than ten. 
Grown chickens sell from twenty to twenty-five cents apiece at the 
highest. They only eat them for a change of diet, for the very poorest 
class of people live on what we of Middle and Northern States term 
luxuries. All the bayous and lakes are full of the finest fish, such as 
trout, black bass, gar, sachylia, sunfish, gaspergoo, and numerous others 
which I do not call to mind just at this moment, and on these same 
waters, abound in great numbers, canvass- back, redhead, mallard, bald- 
pate, blue and green wing teal and summer ducks. Wild geese are on 
the lakes and sea-marsh the entire winter. All this is perfectly free. 
There is no ducking clubs or fishing monopolies here. The best jack- 
snipe grounds in the world are found in the Teche country. f To give 
an idea of the quantity of snipe, I was one of a party of three that 
killed fifty-three birds on a piece of ground that measured as accurately 
as we could by stepping, that was a little less than an acre. Then we 
did not kill half that flew up. Snipe feed here by the thousand. They 
also have plover, rail, prairie chickens, and quail in great abundance. 
I have seen gunners a little farther northj tramping miles and miles to 
get a shot at birds found here feeding and jumping around seemingly in 
perfect security, for they are not molested here by the sportsmen. I 
allude to such birds as robins, doves, flickers, reed-birds, field-larks 

*Tkis will apply to all the parishes of southwest Louisiana. 

tThe country there is no better— hardly as pood now — as nearer the Gulf, further west in the 
Btat« — as in the southwest parts of Vermilion and Caloasieu parishes. 
J This refers to other States, North and East, and not to Louisiana. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 99 



particularly, as they are very shy in the North. They do not fly away, 
but walk, and will let a person get to within ten feet of them. There 
are also a great many deer in this country, which generally frequent the 
sea-marsh. Opossum, coon, rabbit, and red squirrel are very numerous, 
but are seldom or never hunted. There is game always in season. 
When it is out for one kind the other is coming, so that a sportman is 
always in his glory. , . 

I think what I have said in reference to the boundless supplies within 
the reach of every individual living in this section of the country speaks 
volumes in praise of the working-class; for, notwithstanding fish and 
name can be had for nothing, and that meat is raised at a very trifling 
cost, good labor can be had for $1 per day. 

LA FAYETTE PARISH. 

La Fayette is the smallest of the Attakapas parishes. Its extreme 
length is about 19 miles, and its width about the same. Its northeast 
boundary made by the bayous Carancro and Tortue is irregular, the 
other three lines are nearly straight. This parish has an area of about 
31)0 square miles, nearly all of which is prairie land and generally culti- 
vated in corn, cotton, cane, and rice by the largest planters; while the 
other portions are cultivated in various crops, such as potatoes, cabbage, 
peas, and all sorts of garden truck. 

soil. 

The soil of La Fayette Parish is a light loam, and more sand is found 
mixed in it than any other. The average depth of the soil is about 12 
Inches. It rests on a clay subsoil, and is like the soil in all the parishes 
in fertility. They are all rich in plant food, and the fertile properties of 
the subsoil are developed by exposure to the sun and mixing with the 
surface soils. There are fields in La Fayette which have been in culti- 
vation for eighty years, principally in corn and cotton, and are produc- 
ing abundant crops to-day. The only help they have ever had by way 
of fertilizing or manuring has been occasionally plowing under a crop of 
cow-peas. They use two-horse plows in breaking up their land and 
cultivate their crops with one. The land is so easily cultivated, that 
they work their crops with great ease and rapidity. 

The price of good farming lands to-day range from $8 to $30 an acre. 

BEAU BASIN. 

The road leading from Vermilion to Grand Couteau, runs through a 
beautiful agricultural region called Beau Basin. It is 12 miles from 
Vermilion "to Carancro Crossing and about 4 from the road to the 
eastern boundary of Beau Basin, which is the boundary of the parish. 

The lands near Vermilion* are nearly level, but extremely productive. 
A few miles north, between the road and the bayous, the surface be- 
comes beautifully rolling. The gentle slopes and long tortuous ravines 
may bo ranked with the~niost delightful landscape scenery in Attakapas. 
Here we find some of the most pleasaut building sites in this enchanting 
country. The swells are like the heaving bosom of the ocean after a 
storm. Descending into the ravine, one feels as though he were in the 
trough of the sea, so to rise up again on the mountain wave and look 
out on the green ocean. The cottages of the farmers are neat and com- 
fortable. The green pastures, fat cattle, and line fields of cotton and 
corn in their proper season indicate a rich soil and a prosperous popula- 
tion; Shade trees and clumps of timber add greatly to the beauty of 
the scenery. The fields are generally inclosed with a nice fencing, and 
the lands are pretty well ditched. The country is ai ry, pleasant, and 

•Now Lafayette. 



109 SOME LATE WORDS 

healthy. Between Vermilion and New Iberia are situated Cote Gelee 
■ami Koyville. The soil is rich, the country undulating, with deeper 
ravines and higher swells than we find in Beau Basin. The farmers are 
thrifty, hut not as independent as they are in the north of Vermilion- 
ville. Plain dwelling bouses and groves of China trees may he seen in 
all directions. The scenery in places is quite picturesque. This is an 
noen and airy country, with pleasant locations for residences. Admir- 
ably drained, the soil rich, mixed with enough sand and vegetable loam 
to make it easy of cultivation. No portion of the South can be more 
healthful than this. The houses are very low and badly ventilated, the 
inhabitants paying but little, attention to health, sometimes not even 
having windows. Still all the people appear to be perfectly healthy and 
have very little use for the doctor. 

A great deal of land in the parish of La Fayette is now and has been 
changing hands. New enterprises and industries are gradually in- 
creasing. 

y VERMILTON RIVER. 

In mentioning this, I cannot do better than to copy from Darby in his 
geographical observations : 

" The two vast prairies known by the names of the Opelousas and the 
Attakapas, extend themselves on each side of the Vermilion, through 
its whole traverse, from its entrance into Attakapas to its egress into 
the Gulf of Mexico, the distance of 100 miles. 

" Wood is much more abundant on the Vermilion than along the west 
bank of the. Teche, and though the soil may be inferior in fertility, it is 
nevertheless excellent; and the quantity greater on an equal extent of 
river. 

"There are certainly eighty miles of the banks of the Vermilion which 
have an extension backwards two miles, affording 320 superficial miles, 
or 204,800 acres. 

" Some of the most beautiful settlements yet made in Attakapas are 
upon this river. From the diversity in soil and elevation, there is no 
risk in giving the preference in beauty of appearance to the banks of 
the Vermilion over any other river in Louisiana south of Bayou Bceuf. 
If situations favorable to health, united with the most agreeable pros- 
pects, bounded but by the horizon, should be sought after ; were taste to 
select sites for buildings, its research would here be requited, and be 
gratified by the breezes which come direct from the Gulf of Mexico. 
Fancy itself could not form a more delightful range than the Caraucro 
and Cote Celee settlements. On leaving the dead level of the Teche or 
the almost flat extension of the Opelousas prairie, the eye is perfectly 
enchanted. If a bold extent of view can give vigor to the imagination, 
if the increase of the power of intellect bear any proportion to the 
sweep of the eye, upon one of the eminences ought a seat of learning be 
established. There the youthful valetudinarian of the North would, in 
the warm, soft, and vivifying air of the South, find his health restored 
and his soul enlarged. Astonishing as it may sound to many, I do not 
hesitate to prouounce this, together with the range of hills from Opelou- 
sas, as the most healthy and agreeable, near the alluvial land of Louisi- 
ana." 

There are numerous churches of all denominations, with school- 
houses at convenient distances, and well attended. 

CROPS AND FRUITS. 

Cotton, corn, sugar, rice, and all of the field and garden crops of the 
other Attakapas parishes, do well here. Common Irish and sweet pota- 
toes, melons, peaches pumpkins, and field peas find a remarkably con- 
genial soil. All the fruits of the other Attakapas parishes, except 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 101 



oranges and the more delicate kinds, thrive finely in La Fayette. For- 
merly indigo was profitably cultivated here. 

POULTRY. 

This is one of the best parishes in the State for all kinds of domestic 
fowls. Some families make a business of it. 

GENERAL FACTS. 

The bayou or river Vermilion is navigable fifteen miles above the 
bridge on the New Iberia road and seventy-five miles below the bridge 
to Vermilion Bay. Large crops of sugar and cotton are raised in this 
parish. 

The horses, hogs, cattle, and live stock generally are healthy in this 
section. 

The only inconvenience or drawback of this section is the scarcity of 
fire-wood. The principal source is the trimmings of the catalpa and 
china trees. 

The average yield of corn, where properly cultivated, is from fifty to 
sixty bushels an acre. 

Sweet potatoes, from two to three hundred bushels per acre. 

There are a great many Western mules and horses used in this section, 
but there is no reason why they should find it profitable to buy them, for 
the native mules and horses are very good workers. They can endure 
great hardships, and are raised at very little expense, good pasturage 
being abundant the entire year. 

VERMILION PARISH. 

GENERAL, DESCRIPTION. 

The parish of Vermilion contains about 1600 square miles of land and 
water within its limits. About b'00 square, miles of this is tillable wood- 
land, prairie, and cypress swamps. About 500 square miles would 
include the prairie, and 100 square miles the timber land, the smaller 
part of which is cypress swamps. Lukes, bays, and sea-marsh cover 
about 1000 square miles of the surface of the parish. 

About a quarter of the tillable land is on the east side of the Ver- 
milion river or bayou, and three-quarters on the west side extending to 
Lake Arthur and the Mermeuteaxi river. The timber land is principally 
on the Vermilion river, extending ou both sides from the La Fayette 
side nearly to Vermilion Bay. 

The timber is narrow above Abbeville, but it becomes broad below 
this village, extending out a mile and a half on each side in places. As 
it approaches the bay it becomes narrower. Below Abbeville there is a 
creek on the west side of the river lined with a heavy body of timber, 
and there is another on the east side. A line of forest trees extends 
across the New Iberia and Abbeville road beyond the head of the creek. 
There is a line of cypress timber, on land a little higher than the prairie, 
at the edge of the sea-marsh north of Marsh Lake, twelve miles long 
and three-quarters of a mile wide, and there are islands of timber in 
the edge of the sea-marsh east of Vermilion river. There is also 
timber on the south side of Bayou Queue Tortue and on the Pecan 
Island and Grand Cheniere river. 

SOIL. AND SCENERY. 

The soil of this parish is a dark vegetable mold, with a large propor- 
tion of sand, from eight to twelve inches deep. This rests on a subsoil 
of grayish clay. 

The soil along the Vermilion river has a larger proportion of sand 
than that farther back ; this gives the soil a lighter color. On account 
of the larger proportion of sand here than in the Teche lands, these 



102 SOME LATE WORDS 

fields are more easily cultivated, and the roads need but little working — 
an most instances none at all — to keep them good the year round. The 
bottom of ponds and ditches are not boggy. One may pass over any of 
them on horseback without any inconvenience to the horse or rider. 
There are natural ponds in all these prairies, where the stock cattle are 
supplied with water. These ponds are from twenty to fifty 7/uds in 
diameter. 

Being forcibly struck with the convenience of those natural ponds, as 
they are called by the residents, I made inquiry as to whether they had 
been made for reservoirs for the purpose of holding the supply for the 
stock during the dry season. The only answer I received was, "they 
had no recollection of any of them being made by the hand of man." 
Prairie Gregg, which lies next to the sea-marsh southeast of Abbeville, 
is a beautiful sheet of land, level and rich, the soil darker than that east 
of Abbeville. The Gulf breezes sweep over it uninterrupted by forest 
trees. There are but a few of the old inhabitants here who cultivate 
their land to any extent, relying principally on fruits, poultry, and 
stock-raising, which yield them a revenue with which they seem to be 
perfectly satisfied. 

THE PRAIRIE WEST OF THE VERMILION RIVER. 

Viewed from an elevated position of the Queue Tortue, half way be- 
tween the Veimiliou and Lake Arthur, the scenery is the most perfect of 
its kind that fancy can describe. Facing the south, one may here turn 
to the right or to the left, and as far as the eye can reach there is one 
vast extent of natural meadow. Here and there may be seen a herd of 
cattle or horses, almost hidden in some places by the tall natural grass. The 
prairie east, west and south are dotted with little groves of trees, which 
shade the cottages of the resident population, who live principally by 
hunting, fishing aud stock-raising. 

FOREST TREES. 

The dryland timber is oak, ash, magnolia, gum, hickory, elm, beech 
and hackberry. The usual dry -land timber, with the exception of chest- 
nut, is present. The swamp growth is principally cypress. 

CROPS. 

The soil is good for sugar-cane, cotton, rice, potatoes, aud all the 
products of the Attakapas parishes. 

The yield of cotton is not as large per acre as in higher latitudes. The 
parish is peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of rice. It may become 
the leading rice parish in the State. Large yields of sugar have been 
grown in the parish ; as large as 3000 pounds have been produced ; from 
H00 to 1000 pounds of rice. The capacity of the soil is strong, but has 
been neglected on account of the great attention paid to stock-raising. 
Oxen are generally used in breaking up new ground, and Creole or native 
horses in cultivating it. 

Oxen are not put to work until the grass rises in March, since but a 
few of them are fed on hay or corn. 

It is surprising to see so little attention paid to making hay, when it 
could be gathered in great abundance. Millions of tons are trampled 
under foot and go to waste, for the number of cattle that are raised in 
this section cannot consume the great quantity of grass in the growing 
season. Agriculture has received less attention here than in the other 
parishes. 

Good well water can be had in this section at a depth varying from 
twenty to thirty feet. 

A large quantity of poultry and eggs are shippd to the New Orleans 
market from this section. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 103 



The parish abounds with wild game, such as duck, geese, brent, quail, 
wild hogs, prairie hen, and deer. 

Vermilion Bay abounds in fish and oysters. The fresh water lakes,, 
ponds, and bayous have an abundance; of fish. 

ABBEVILLE. 

The Vermilion river is navigable the entire length of this parish, and 
vessels ply between Abbeville and New Orleans, carrying the products 
of the surrounding parishes to the metropolis of the South. 

Abbeville is beautifully situated, about thirty-five miles from the 
mouth of the river. , 

The population is slowly but steadily increasing. 

SAINT MARY'S PARISH. 

The parish of Saint Mary's has a front on four great bays, connected 
with Hie Gulf of Mexico, forty miles in extent. It has an average width 
of a little more than twelve miles. It is about fifty miles by the main 
road through the parish from its western line, near Jeannerette, to its 
eastern line, at the Boeuf crossing of the Morgan Railroad. Before the 
year 1868, the western line of St. Mary's extended to a point only one 
mile east of New Iberia, and Petite Anse Island was included in the 
limits of the parish. Its largest crops then were 50,000 hogsheads of 
sugar and 70,000 barrels of molasses. St. Mary's then contained 170 
sugar plantations, lining the Teche on both sides, Bayou Cypremort, 
Bayou Sale, Atchafalaya, Berwick's Bay, the Boeuf, Bayou Schaffer, 
spread out on the Au Large prairie west and the Cypremort prairie 
south of Jeannerette, and on the three beautiful islands, Petite Anse, 
Grande Cote and Cote Blanche. Belle Isle in former days was culti- 
vated as a sugar plantation by its proprietor, Dr. Walter Brashear. St. 
Mary's appears to splendid advantage from the pilot-house of a steam- 
boat as she plows through these navigable bayous, lakes, and bays, and 
to poor advantage on the best map that can be drawn. 

GGNEKAL ELEVATION. 

The highest land in St. Mary's, excepting the islands of Cote Blanche 
and Belle Isle, is not over fifteen feet above the level of the Gulf of 
Mexico. The highest land around Berwick's Bay has an elevation of 
about ten feet, and from the bay to Patterson ville, and three or four 
miles up the mouth of the Teche, the elevation is but little above that 
around the bay and on the Boeuf. At Franklin, the west bank of the 
Bayou Teche is about thirteen feet above tide water, and the east bank 
is a little lower. Ik-low Jeannerette, the elevation is fifteen feet. The 
two islands. Belle Isle, and Cote Blanche, at their highest points rise 
more than 160 feet above the level of the Gulf. The sea-marsh is most 
of it under water dining storms from the. Gulf, sweeping towards the 
land at this point. 

. SOIL. 

There is not an acre of poor land in the parish. Fields that have 
been cultivated in corn and sugar-cane for nearly a century, without 
manure, still produce good crops. The lands are easily and cheaply 
restored after long continued and severe cropping. The parish has land 
restoratives within its limits better than Peruvian guano, as we will show 
in an article under is proper heading. 

AGUICULTIJUAL riiODUCTS. 

Cotton is cultivated in Saint Mary's, but it is not considered a profi- 
table crop. Sugar-cane is the true crop of the parish. Much of the 
land is adapted to rice. The sea-marsh, by local levees and draining- 
machines, makes rich rice lauds. The soil consists principally of a 



101 SOME LATE WORDS 

vegetable deposit of great depth. Swamp lands or any of the reclaim- 
able wet lands are fine for rice ; corn, sweet and Irish potatoes, 
pumpkins, peas, beans, indigo, ramie, arrowroot, ginger, castor-oil bean, 
tobacco, hay, cabbage, and turnips do well in this climate, though a part 
of this list lias only been cultivated to a limited extent. Sea island 
cotton does well on the islands along the coast. 

GARDENS. , 

Garden vegetables grow in this parish the year round. Nearly all 
kinds of vegetables grow the same here as in the North and West. The 
winter gardens contain onions, mustard, eschalots, leeks, garlic, beets, 
cabbage, carrots, turnips, cress, roquette, lettuce, raddish, cauliflower, 
celery, etc. Good gardens have an abundance of vegetables, fresh the 
year round. White-head cabbage and fine rutabaga and red-top tur- 
nips may be taken fresh from the garden in January and February, and 
also in the summer and fall.* 

HEDGES. 

The pyracanth makes the best hedge in this country. It is propa- 
gated from cuttings, is an evergreen, beautiful, compact, full of short 
thorns, grows thick and close to the ground, can be trained to any 
desired shape, afnd makes a good hedge in a few years. The cherokee 
rose is useless. The chicasaw rose makes a good hedge, but it makes a 
mountain of vines and foliage. The bois d'arc makes a good hedge, but 
it requires too much labor and is too much inclined to grow tall and 
form trees. 

THE CniNA, CATALPA, AND BLACK LOCUST. 

The china is a fine shade tree ; bugs and worms will not live on or 
around it. It is propagated readily from seeds, makes good firewood 
even when green, makes good cabinet wood, grows rapidly, not easy to 
decay, and makes good fence-posts. The limbs cut from trees planted 
near houses in the prairies supply many families with wood. Its growth 
is rapid aud it bears close trimming. Nearly the same facts hold good 
in regard to the catalpa and the black locust. 

OVERFLOWS. 

The west bank of the Teche, from a point five or six miles below 
Centreville to its source in Saint Landry, has not been overflowed since 
the memory of man ; and it has no levees to protect it. This bank pro- 
tects Bayou Salle, Cypremort and all of the country west of this 
bayou. The lands in the lower part of the parish and on the east side 
of the Teche here, overflowed in 1778, 1828 and 1867. When Grand 
Levee on the Mississippi stands firm, no part of Saint Mary's can suffer 
from overflow. 

GENERAL ITEMS. 

The fishes of the waters in and around Saint Mary's are redfish, black 
drum, trout, sheephead, flounder, mullet, croaker, cat, buffalo, perch, 
soft-shell turtle, gar and choupique. 

White men stand field labor in St. Mary's as well as colored men, and 
have less sickness and mortality. Milch cows, when perfectly attended 
to, do well in this parish. No richer milk or finer butter is produced 
anywhere, than that formerly produced on Bayou Teche. Hogs, 
chickens and all kinds of poultry do well in this parish, excepting tur- 
keys, which, from some unknown cause, do not thrive well. 

Steamers may laud at nearly all of the plantations of this parish. 
The parish is situated ou the tide- water, and never suffers by freshets 
from heavy or long continued rains. 

"The above facts as to vegetables ■will apply to most of Louisiana. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 105 



The crops of Saint Mary's are laid by, and field work stops, or may 
stop, by the 1st of July. 

The Teohe is considered the most beautiful bayou in the State. 



SAINT LANDRY PARISH. 



AREA AND PHYSICAL CHARACTER. 



The parish of Saint Landry contains about 1,350,000 acres,* nearly 
equally divided between woodland and prairie. About three-quarters 
of the land is suitable for planting and grazing purposes. It is well 
watered by numerous bayous, running streams, and branches, nearly all 
clothed with a generous growth of timber, in many places a mile wide. 
Between the timbered streams, fine natural meadows spread out, clothed 
over nine months of the year with grass, that contains large herds of 
cattle and horses. 

THE SOIL AND PACE OF THE COUNTRY. 

In the upper part of the parish nearly all the streams, fed by springs, 
take their rise. Here the country is somewhat hilly, and is covered by 
a dense forest of pine, oak, ash, walnut, hickory and other valuable 
forest trees. Here also are found valuable mineral springs, which are 
much resorted by the invalids, and which possess great curative proper- 
ties. Considerable deposits of limestone are here found, from which, 
for home consumption, is made excellent lime, and a very fine quarry 
of marble, which is susceptible of a beautiful polish and is valuable for 
being made into mantel-pieces, monuments, etc. The soil in the middle 
and lower portion is excellent, resting on a subsoil of fine brown or 
grayish clay, which, when plowed up, exposed to the weather, and 
mixed with surface soil, is as rich as the upper stratum. That subject 
to overflow, being rich alluvial, is inexhaustible and adapted to all the 
products of this lattitude. The soil of the prairie is generally mellow 
and easy of cultivation. Grass covers all portions of the parish, except 
the cultivated fields or surface covered by forests or water. More than 
half a million acres of grass in St. Landry is not under fence. The 
greater portion of the wealth of Saint Landry has been obtained from 
horses and cattle on the prairies, raised without hay or shelter. On 
these prairies a hundred thousand tons of hay might be made yearly for 
the New Orleans and other markets. 

The following geographical description is found in a report made by 
Darbey in 1817, when the Sabine was the western boundary of the 
parish of Saint Landry, including a description of the Opclousas prai- 
rie : 

PRAIRIE AND HERDS. 

This vast expanse of natural meadow extends seventy-five miles 
southwest and northeast, and is twenty-five miles wide, containing more 
than 1,200,000 acres, inclusive of the numerous points of woods that 
form its margin on all sides. This prairie begins thirteen miles north- 
west of Opelousas and gradually opening to the southward, sends out 
various branches between the bayous. 

Of the herds, as there seen on the prairie, the same author remarks : 
4i Here you behold those vast herds of cattle which affords subsistence 
to the natives and the inhabitants of New Orleans. It is certainly one 
of the most agreeable views in nature, to behold from a point of eleva- 
tion, thousands of cattle and horses of all sizes scattered over the inter- 
mediate mead in wild confusion. The mind feels a glow of correspond- 
ing innocent enjoyment with those useful and inoffensive animals grazing 
in a sea of plenty. If the active horsemen that guard us would keep 

"Th« parish has since been Impaired in area, by the formation of Acadia from it 



106 SOME LATE WORDS 

their distance, fancy would transport them backward into the pastoral 
ages. Allowing an animal to he produced for every five acres, more 
than two hundred and twenty thousand can be yearly reared and trans- 
ported from this prairie alone, which, at an average of ten dollars a 
head, would amount to $2,200,000." At the time the above article was 
written, the year 1817, Mr. Darbey estimated the herds of the three 
greatest stock owners of the country, Mr. Wikoff, Mr. Fontenot, Mr. 
Andrus, at 20,000 head. 

OVERFLOWS. 

Portions of Saint Landry on the Atchafalaya and some of the bayous, 
are subject to overflow, when Grand Levee gives way, but most of the 
lands have never been under water since the parish has been inhabitated 
by white men, and never can be ; and even the overflowed lands may be 
converted into rice plantations to some extent, or reclaimed when the 
levees of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya are made secure. Most of the 
lauds subject to overflow are the richest in the world, and contain a 
heavy growth of cypress. 

CHOPS, FRUITS AND GARDENS. 

The crops, fruits, and gardens of Saint Landry and of the other five 
parishes described in this circular, excepting cotton and oats, are less 
troubled by insects and vermin, and less liable to disease than they are 
in higher latitutes in other parts of the United States. The surface cul- 
tivated in Saint Landry yearly, amounts to about 100,000 acres. About 
one-third of this is planted in cotton. Not a tenth part of the tillable 
laud is under cultivation. With a working population like that of the 
Western States, and the same kind of cultivation, that parish might 
send to market yearly 100,000 bales of cotton, 50,000 hogsheads of 
sugar, 75,000 barrels of molasses, and rice, tobacco, broom corn, basket 
willow, beeves, hay, horses, milch cows, sheep, hogs, hides, poultry, 
eggs, rosin, turpentine, and other valuable products to the amount of 
from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. Such varied and valuable resources, in 
a climate so salubrious, can hardly be found any where else on the face 
of the earth. 

TIMBERED BOTTOMS. 

The timbered bottoms are rich and are excellent for sugar, rice, cot- 
ton, corn, sweet and Irish potatoes, peas, tobacco, melons, pumpkins, 
hay, garden fruits, etc. No richer land can be found anywhere. They 
are heavily timbered with the best of sugar wood, and the swamps con- 
tain an inexhaustible supply of the best of timber for building purposes 
and for hogsheads and barrels for the sugar planters. 

BAYOUS, RIVERS AND STREAMS. 

The Atchafalaya, on the east, connects this parish by steamboat navi- 
gation, with New Orleans. 

The Bayou Courtableau, formed by the junctiou of the Crocodile and 
the Bceuf, affords good navigation to Washington the entire year, with 
slight and occasional interruption during the summer. The route is 
down the Courtableau to the Atchafalaya, thence up the latter to the 
Mississippi river, and thence to the city of New Orleans. The Bayou 
Bceuf is the channel of transportation for the planters, by means of 
barges, to Washington, and the Crocodile affords means of transporta- 
tion to the lumbermen. The Plaquemine Brulee, the Millet, the Cane, 
and the Nez Piqu6 are fine streams, but not navigable. The Mermen- 
tau, formed by the Nez Piqu6 and Plaquemine Bruise, is a fine, navi- 
gable stream. Vessels ascend it some seventy miles for lumber, which 
is taken to Texas, Havana, and the Mexican ports. Upon these streams 
are found large bodies of timber, suitable for all the purposes of build- 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. i U7 



in- ami fencing and they afford an unfailing supply of water for stock. 
1 he parish has 230 miles of navigable water. 

IBERIA PARISH. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Iberia parish extends from Belle River, east of Grand Lake, to a line 
running horn the west end of Lake Peigneur, to the mouth of Petite 
Arise Bayou. It is bounded on the north by Saint Martin's and on the 
south by Saint Mary's; east by Assumption, and west by Vermilion and 
Lafayette. Its length is about 45 miles. Its widest part is about 20 
I'V , , ; i , , of the eastern portion is water and cypress swamp. The 
tillable land along the west side of the Morgan Railroad and the Teche 
irom the parish lino below Joannerette to New Iberia, called the Au 
Large pra.no, has a width of about 6 miles, and it is a little wider above, 
between the raihoan and Lake Peigneur; the land from the line where 
tue railroad enters the parish below Jeannerette to the line where it 
eaves it west or Lake Tasse, is about 20 miles in extent. All the land 
s tillable between Lake Peigneur and Lake Tasse, and in the great 
bend oi the 1 echo northeast of New Iberia. There is a sheet of tillable 
ami line grazing land south of Lake Peigneur. The Teche is lined with 
plantations nearly the eutire distance from the entrance into the parish 
oi Iberia, east ol Lake Tasse, to the line where it leaves the parish, be- 
low Jeannerette. v ' 

The portion of the parish that borders on Grand Lake is a dense 
cypress swamp, and bordering on this swamp there is a growth of -nun 
ash, oak and other timber. The tillable land opposite and above Jeau- 
nerette is two or three miles in width. Around the great bend of the 
bayou above called Fausse Pointe, the tillable land has a much greater 
width lac lands m all parts of this parish are rich. On the west side 
oi the bayou there is a scarcity of woodland, and on the east side is an 
abundance of cypress and wood for sugar-making. 

THE TECHE AND ITS SCENERY. 

From the point where the Teche enters the parish of Iberia, about 
five miles below St. Martin ville, by the windings of the bayou, to New 
Iberia, the distance is about 25 miles. This portion of the bayou is ex- 
treme y beautiful. Its banks are generally 18 feet above tide- water, and 
they descend gently to the edge of the water au angle of less than 30 
degrees. 

THE AU LARGE PRAIRIE. 

This is a stretch of land south and west of New Iberia, and a more 
Deautif ul prairie country is seldom or never seen, and is cultivated prin- 
cipally in sugar. * 

AROUND NEW IBERIA. 

The more we circulate over this country of which New Iberia is the 
trading center, the more we are impressed with its beautv and its value 
ior tanning purposes. It is a lovely and wonderful country. The sea 
breezes roll over it and give health and long life to its inhabitants. Its 
Climate is a medium between the tropical and the north temperate, com- 
bining most of che advantages of both, and the evils of neither, 
btcamers from New Orleans and vessels from the ocean penetrate its 
Em'^Vfn 1,8 .^" 16 Southern Pacific Railroad, connecting 
«ew Orleans and the Pacific coast, pass through it daily. 

ORANGE ISLAND. 

Orange Island, now the property of the great artist, Mr. Joseph Jef- 
nn+i"' Wa ?x foru \ ei ; 1 y called Miller's Island. It bounds Lake Peigneur 
on the south, and bes in a curve of the lake, which has the shape of a 



108 SOME LATE WORDS 

new moon. The highest point of the island is 75 feet above the level of 
the lake, and 84 feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico. It has hills, 
valleys, level and inclined planes, and from its bluff banks in places, 
the brandies of the trees hang out over the waters of the lake. 

Orange Island is in a line with Petite Anse, Grand Cote, and Cote 
Blanche Islands. Each is separated from the neighboring island by a 
distance of nearly six miles. 

Orange Island rises above the level of the surrounding prairie and the 
lake, as the other islands rise above and overlook the surrounding sea 
marsh. But a short distance off flows the Petite Anse Bayou, draining 
the neighboring country, and emptying into the Gulf, ten miles below 
the island. The constant sea breeze renders the spot healthy and 
pleasant as a residence. There is on this island what is claimed, and I 
have no right to doubt, the oldest orange grove in this country. Many 
of those trees are very large, some of them a foot in diameter. Mr. 
Jefferson now has eight orange groves, and raises an immense crop of 
oranges every year. There are over one thousand young and bearing 
pecan trees. Also cherry, tig, peach, quince, inespilus, mandarins, 
lemons, and blue plums. The tinest magnolias and live oaks in the 
world grow on this island. The magnolia grows to an enormous size. 
Mr. Jefferson has erected a palatial mansion on the elevation overlook- 
ing the lake, which, with its surroundings, makes it one of tli3 most 
beautiful houses in the United States. Passing from his residence to 
his boat-house on the lake, you go through an avenue of stately bve 
oaks, a magnolia and orange grove. Seen from the summit of the bluff, 
the lake spreads out almost beneath the feet of the observer, while the 
gleam of its silvery surface closes the vista of the principal avenues . 
leading from the house. Mr. Jefferson has 9,000 acres ; the soil is very ' ' 
rich, and most of it easy of cultivation, producing in one instance four j 
Hogsheads of sugar per acre. He now uses the entire property for cattle- Ur* 
grazing, and has probably 5,000 head. He has a number of fine blooded 
horses and a good collection of registered cattle. He is favorably im- 
pressed with the Holsteins ; has watched some for five years to note the 
effects of the climate, and is very well pleased, and will go more exten- 
sively into the breed hereafter. 

ACADIA PARISH. 

This is a parish cut off from south St. Landry about two years ago. 
Nothing need be given in the way of description, additional to what has 
been said. Its parish site is Crowley, a new and. very "live" town, and 
very well known North and West. 

Rayne is a bright and beautiful town lately sprung into great activity 
through one and another influence. Acadia is full of the influences of 
the large capital, and vitalizing effects of the new spirit that has come 
so forcibly to southwest Louisiana within the last few years. 



We now take up the "Alluvial Lands," still quoting from Col. Harris' 

hand-book : 

ASCENSION, IBERVILLE, ST. JAMES, ST. JOHN, ST. CHARLES 

AND JEFFERSON PARISHES. 

These parishes lie on both banks of the Mississippi river and extend 
from the city of New Orleans to the Baton Rouge parishes, having a 
double river front of about 125 miles. On the west bank of the river 
they are traversed by the New Orleans and Pacific Railroad, and on the 
east by the Mississippi Valley road. The soil of these parishes is 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 109 



alluvial and the principal products sugar and rice. St. James is noted 
as the Perique tobacco Darish, although this valuable product may be 
grown on any of the lands in this section. The principal towns in these 
parishes are Donaldsonville, Plaquemine, St. James, Edgard, Hahnville 
and Jefferson. There are many other villages, and public steamboat 
landings along the river, but steamboats generally deliver and receive 
freight direct at each plantation landing. 

The climate on this coast is very fine, the weather during the greater 
part of the year is most delightful, and the healthfulness is conceded by 
all practicing physicians. The average duration of human life is as 
long here as anywhere else in the United States. The winters are like 
Indian summers, and spring generally opens in February with blossoms 
on the peach and plum trees and blackberry bushes. Roses bloom 
throughout the entire winter. The heat of summer is moderated by the 
refreshing breezes from the lakes and river, and the nights are generally 
pleasant. . 

The lands being alluvial, formed gradually from deposits left by the 
sediment brought down the Mississippi and other rivers, are the richest 
in the world. They are highest on the banks of streams, from which 
they slope off into the wooded lauds in the rear, which are generally 
swamps. Hence the distinction between "front" and "back" lands. 
Here and there will be found a ridge or belt of high land, covered with 
a variety of magnificent trees and a thick undergrowth of canes and 
climing vines, and sometimes can be found an Indian mound, made of 
shells from the neighboring lakes. The front lands are mostly cleared 
and cultivated for two or three miles back. The cleared part of ridges 
is also cultivated. The principal forest growth is cypress, oak, ash, 
gum, maple, elm, hackberry, willow and cottonwood. 

The price of land varies according to location and improvement. 
The religion of the oldest settlers who speak French and of their 
descendants is Catholic. 
There are public scheols, besides private schools, in every village. 
There are many beautiful and profitable orange orchards. Pecan 
trees furnish an abundance of delicious nuts, while Japan and other 
plums and figs grow in great luxuriance and abundance. Peaches, 
grapes, pears, bananas, persimmons, strawberries, blackberries, dew- 
berries and mulberries all do well. Corn and potatoes grow abundantly. 
Of vegetables, the choicest in the land can be seen growing in summer 
and winter. 

Horses, mules, cows, sheep, goats and hogs, thrive well. Sheep and 
hogs especially are easily kept, multiply rapidly and are profitable. 
Grazing facilities are great ; as the winters are never very severe, grass 
does not entirely die out. Excellent hay can be made from the native 
grasses. 

A better place for a vegetable garden and truck patch can hardly be 
imagined. Winter, summer, spring and fall gardens can be, and are, 
planted here, and there is no month nor week in the year when the 
gardener cannot be gathering his harvests. To give a list of all the 
vegetables that can be successfnlly and profitably raised here, would be 
to print the catalogue of the most complete garden seed establishment 
in the country. No hot-houses are required to produce many of our 
North summer's vegetables in the very middle of winter, and a ready 
market for all that can be raised is always near at hand. 

This is the land of milk and honey. Flowers abound. Bees do 
splendidly and require but little care. In this semi-tropical clime they 
can gather their harvests from flowers all the year. No man is excus- 
able in this region for not adorning his home with a robe of beauty. 
Almost every flower and shrub and flowering tree known to the zone, 



110 SOME LATE WORDS 



from the lofty magnolia— which gives a charm to any scene where it 
crows- to the delicate violet, flourishes here. Many residences are 
fiterally embowered in blooming trees, shrubbery, vines and flowers. A 
hundred varieties of the rose can be raised to make the air fragrant, 
from January to June, and then again from June to January. 

Perhaps there is not a spot in the world where the dairy business can 
be conducted with such profit as here. Cows do well and give a large 
quantity of milk all the year on the range alone. 

There is no land in the world where poultry raising is so easy and 
profitable an occupation as in this section of the Mississippi valley. 
Turkeys, geese, ducks, chickens, Guinea fowls, pigeons, etc., here 
thrive an din crease without expense to the owner; and besides supply- 
ing his table, enable him to dispose of a large number each year to 

market. . , , ^ 

The lakes, bayons, ponds and rivers furnish a constant supply ot 
different kinds of fish. The fields and woods afford line sport to the 
huntsman. Hares, squirrels, raccoons and many varieties ol birds are 
plentiful, while sometimes a deer or bear is met with. 

The plantation drainage is effected by open ditches and canals run- 
ning back from the river to lower land in the rear, or into some one ol 
the°numerous bayous, which form a network all over the alluvial 

region. «. , • /• it 

The decks of the passing steamboats afford a view of the growing 
crops of sugar cane and rice and the residences of the planters, sur- 
rounded by live oaks and orange trees, that is very attractive to the 

■4- »»Q vfMpr 

In addition to the lands along the river, the bayou banks are culti- 
vated to the depth of from one to two miles back. 

In the rear of the arable lands are dense forests of cypress, oak, ash, 
gum and other valuable timbers. 

The cypress is utilized by the planters to make coolers, hogsheads, 
barrels, cisterns, shingles and general lumber. Up to this time no 
other use is made of the remaining valuable forest growth, except burn- 
ing it for fuel. 

S ASCENSION PARISH 

is almost alf alluvial ; the portion fronting on the Mississippi river is 
identical in character with that of the "coast" of Iberville ; the parish is 
adapted to sugar, rice and cotton, and the lands highly productive 1 he 
parish town, Donaldson ville, is a thriving village of about 2000 inhabi- 
tants, and at one time was inclined to dispute precedence with New 
Orleans and Baton Rouge. . . . 

By far the larger portion of this parish lies east of the Mississippi 

The river front, from one to three miles back, is occupied by some of 
the finest sugar plantations in the State. „,,.,». « 

The land on this side of the river is generally alluvial, but on the 
northern boundry there is a strip of bluff land, three ox four miles wide 
and about fifteen miles in length. 

The New river, Amite and Mancnac, are thickly settled with small 
farmers, who are industrious and thrifty. 

IBERVILLE PARISH 
lies between the Bayou Grosse Tete and the Mississippi river on the 
east, and the upper Grand river and its chain of lakes and bayous bor- 
dering the parish of St. Martin on the west. It is wholly alluvial ; belts 
of cultivatable and highly productive lands lie along most ot the bayous 
to the depth of one-half to two mUes, especially in the northern portion, 
along Bayous Grosse Tete, Maringuin and Deglaize. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. HI 



In the southern part of the parish, along lower Grand river and its 
tributaries, bayous Pigeon and Sorrel, the lauds have been partially- 
cleared, and are of fine quality, but the overflows prevent their occupa- 
tion to a great extent. Bayou Plaquemine, connecting Grand river 
with the Mississippi, is a large navigable stream, and is thickly settled 
along both of its banks. The court-house town of Plaquemine has a 
flourishing business in the shipment of agricultural produce and (cypress) 
lumber. 

The "coast" of Iberville is remarkable for the highly improved condi- 
tion and great extent of its plantations, there being many handsome 
residences, surrounded by parks of live oak and pecan trees. Cleared 
lands lie also along Bayou Goula and Manufactory Bayou, extending 
back almost to Lake Natchez, by which they are thoroughly 
drained. 

ST. JAMES PARISH, 

north of the river, resembles more the river parishes further north than 
those of the Delta plain proper. The highlands near the river are highly 
productive and densely settled, and mostly occupied by sugar planta- 
tions. Northward of this belt the drainage is toward Lake Maurepas, 
through Bayou des Acadiens and Mississippi Bayou, which headed a 
few miles from the main river. The belt of marsh land fringing the 
shores of Lake Maurepas is only from three-quarters to one mile wide, 
and the land along the bayous south of the rivers; the cultivated border 
belt of the usual width of from two and a half to three miles is some- 
what abruptly terminated by the marsh prairies that border the Lake 
des Allemands, which thence extend westward as a belt about six miles 
in width, a little beyond the principal meridian of the survey, a^out 
half way between the river and Bayou Lafourche. 

ST. CHARLES PARISH 

has many geographical advantages, and is partially bounded on dif- 
ferent sides by three lakes of considerable size, namely : Pontchartrain, 
Des Allemands and Salvador, the last two being connected by Bayou 
Des Allemands. TRe distance by river from its court-house to the 
present upper limits of New Orleans is about twenty miles. The means 
of communication between the two points are many and comfortable. 

There are several saw mills in the parish, from which large quantities 
of cypress lumber are furnished. The making of pickets, clapboards, 
shingles, hogsheads and barrels gives employment to many. 

The facilities for the transportation of freight and passengers is good. 
Three railroads from New Orleans pass through the parish, namely : the 
Donaldsonville, the Morgan and Chicago railroads. The Mississippi 
river, the lakes, and Bayou Des Allemands, afford facilities for water 
crafts. The public road along the river puts the planter who is on 
horseback or in a buggy within easy access of the city of New Orleans. 

At Bayou Des Allemands many men do handsomely by hunting, and 
in the winter months large number of wild ducks are shipped to New 
Orleans from this point. The gathering and curing of moss, the cutting 
and marketing of wood affords profitable employment. Soil in the 
vicinity of the river is well adapted to the manufacture of bricks and 
common pottery. 

ST. JOHN PARISH, 

reaching southward to Lake Des Allemands and its bordering marshes, 
while to the northward it embraces the neck of land that separates 
Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, is, in most respects, similar to St. 
Charles. Between the main river and Lake Maurepas, it comprehends a 
fine expanse of agricultural land of great productiveness and in a high 



112 SOME LATE WORDS 

si nle of cultivation. Fields of sugar cane and market gardens occupy 
most of the cultivatable lands in the parish. The region between the 
two lakes is partly cypress swamp, partly marsh prairie, rendered almost 
impenetrable by a thick undci growth of saw palmetto. The prairie on 
the border of Lake Pontchartrain is partly of the "trembling" character, 
which is perceptible even to the passer-by on the great highway — the 
New Orleans and Chicago Railroad — that traverses it. A few cultivated 
spots and settlements exist in this region also. 

JEFFERSON PARISH 
stretches from Lake Pontchartrain on the north to the head of Barataria 
Bay on the gulf coast. Most of the tillable lands lie in the northern 
portion along the Mississippi river, just west of, as well as opposite to 
the city of New Orleans. The relatively high banks of the Mississippi, 
on which the towns of Algiers and Gretna are located, form a dividing 
rid^e, from the south side of which the water drains southward through 
Bayou Barataria and its connections into Barataria Bay. On the higher 
land accompanying this bayou, as well as Bayou Dauphine or Des 
Families, there are some fine sugar plantations, although the tillable 
lands are of little depth, and from about the junction of the two bayous, 
near the eastern end of Lake Washa, the marsh prairie closes iu upon 
their banks. 

In the southern portion, the surface of the parish is almost entirely 
covered by swamp, marsh prairie and sea marsh, traversed by an in- 
tricate net work of bayous and dotted with lakes, resorts of fishermen 
and duck-hunters only. Numerous shell-heaps form the only elevations 
in the level plain. 

Through Company Canal, light-draught steamers and other crafts can 
pass from the Mississippi, near Algiers, into Bayou Barataria, and 
Harvey's Canal establishes similar communication farther west. Bara- 
taria Bayou is navigable, and through its connections the waters of the 
Gulf are reached without difficulty. 

The shore of Lake Pontchartrain, at the northern end of the parish, 
is bordered with four or five miles of marsh prairie, whose landward 
limit is marked by a belt of live oak, forming the background of the 
landscape as seen from the river. The lands intervening between the 
live oak belt and the river are thickly settled and highly productive. 
ASSUMPTION, LAFOURCHE AND TERREBONNE PARISHES. 
These parishes lie west of the Mississippi river. They extend from 
near Donaldsonville to the Gulf of Mexico. The Bayou Lafourche, 
which flows out of the Mississippi river at Donaldsonville, passes 
through the entire length of Assumption and Lafourche to the Gulf, 
about one hundred miles to the southeast. 

To the south and west of these parishes is the parish of Terrebonne, 
extending along the Gulf of Mexico from Timbalier Bay on the east to 
Atchafalaya Bay ou the Avest, a distance of over seventy miles. It 
has for its northern and eastern boundaries the parish of Lafourche and 
a portion of Assumption, while on the west it is bounded by the parish 
of St. Mary and the Atchafalaya Bay and river. The parish covers an 
area of about 1584 square miles, and was originally settled by Acadian s 
about the year 1765. A large portion of the land lying along the gulf 
is sea marsh, and, therefore, not available for agricultural purposes 
unless properly drained. In the northern portion of the parish, how- 
ever will be found a very supei'ior quality of alluvial soil, which is 
wonderful in its productive capacities, and is extensively cultivated. In 
this section, in the vicinity of the town of Houma, the surface of the 
earth is about eleven feet above tide water, and by means of numerous 
bayous is readily drained. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. US" 



The arable land of these parishes is all alluvial. A part is sandy 
loam, another black stiff soil witli no sand, and a combination of these 
two. The sandy soil is lighter and more easily worked; but the stiff 
land ripens cane earlier and is more adapted to rice culture. The mixed 
soil combines the good qualities of both. 

The prevailing religion in this section is the Roman Catholic; but 
chuicjies of all denominations, as well as public and private schools, are 
established in every village. 

The people of this section are generally intelligent, educated and re- 
fined. All classes are kind and hospitable. 

Bayou Lafourche is navigable for about seven months in the year for 
steamboats and all species of water craft. By it stone, coal, fire-brick, 
hoop-poles, sand, lime, lumber from the West, are landed in front of the 
various sugar plantations and towns; also rafts of saw logs are landed 
at the saw mills, floated from the swamps of upper Louisiana and Mis- 
sissippi. By the stream, either on steamboats during high water, or by 
flat-boats in low water, a large amount of the sugar machinery, etc., 
necessary in the culture of sugar, and merchandise, is brought to the 
different landings, and the crops made are transported to market. From 
the seashore, by means of luggers, oysters, game, fish, melons, oranges, 
etc., are brought to the railroad stations for reshipment to the New Or- 
leans market, or peddled along the bayou to the residents on either 
bank. 

Bayou des Allemands is a beautiful stream, rising near Donaldson- 
ville,"and emptying into Lake Salvador, where it is lost in the numerous 
bays and outlets extending to the Gulf of Mexico. It is navigable for 
steamboats drawing four feet ot water, and through it many of the 
products of Lafourche find an outlet to market. This bayou drains all 
that section of the country found between Bayou Lafourche and the 
Mississippi river as far down as the parish of St. Charles. 

Bayou Blue flows from Thibodaux to the Gulf, and from Lake Fields 
down could be rendered navigable. 

Bayous Chicbey, Choupic, Malogay and Grand Bayou, and various 
others, serve as drains to the country. 

Lake Fields, in the rear of Lockport, and Lake Long in its rear, are 
beautiful bodies of water, noted for their excellent fish— such as cat, 
sac-a-lait, perch, buffalo, etc. 

Lake Salvador is a magnificent body of water north of Lockport, and 
is the entrance to one of the most charming body of lakes that lead into 
the Gulf at Grand Pass, that can be found on the globe. 

Lake Allemands is a large body of water between Lafourche and St. 
James. These lakes are supplied with fish and crabs at all seasons, and 
during the hunting seasons are favorite resting places for the immense 
flocks of poule-d'eau and ducks, that come down from the colder climes 
of the north. 

Many of the inhabitants actually clothe and feed their families from 
the proceeds derived from the fowl yards, and in the spring, boxes of eggs 
constitute the principal down freights of steam packets. 

The soil is admirably adapted to the production of field peas, pota- 
toes (both sweet and Irish), pumpkins, melons and garden truck gener- 
ally. Figs, plums, peaches and oranges are grown successfully in the 
different localities adapted to their nature. 

The uncleared lands are densely covered with the best of timber, 
among which is found the different varieties of oak, ash, cypress, gum, 
magnolia, maple and wild pecan. The most valuable among these is 
the cypress, which is very durable and extensively used for building 
purposes, fences, shingles, staves and fuel. The number of ornamental 
trees and evergreens for the beautifying of yards and parks is very 



114 SOME LATE WORDS 

large, among which the magnolia grandi-flora and the majestic live oak, 
richly deserve the enconiums which have been so profusely bestowed by 
visitants of our State. 

There are large bodies of land in the interior densely covered with 
fine cypress, at this time a little inconvenient oi access, but as the tim- 
ber now near at hand is being rapidly consumed, these swamps in the 
near future must necessarily become very valuable. The timber busi- 
ness offers a large field for industry and enterprise, for lower Louisiana 
of necessity deals largely in building materials, pickets, barrel and hogs- 
head staves and shingles. 

A general prejudice prevails among strangers, and grave doubts as 
to the capacity of the white race to pursue agricultural labor during the 
heat of summer. But small farmers have been accustomed to perform 
their daily round of labor as agriculturists without any detriment to 
their health. As a rule, the Creole population are early risers and get 
through a large portion of their work in the early part of the day, take 
a good rest at noon, and finish in the evening after the sun has lost 
some of its force. The health of the laboring white population will 
compare favorably with that of any other Southern State. 

Strangers often express surprise that a flat country, in which the 
cypress trees abound, and in which most forest trees are draped with 
moss, should contain so many individuals who have reached the age of 
three-score and ten. 

The nights are cool, and we are not subjected to the intense heat 
which, during the summer, often deprives the inhabitants of higher lati- 
tudes of refreshing slumber at night. Proximity to the Gulf coast exer- 
cises a delightful and grateful influence on the heat of summer. 

Owing to the situation of lands on the Lafourche, and the length of 
time the country has been settled (upwards of a century), the, induce- 
ments to emigrants for cheap lands are not so great as those found in 
some of the highland parishes, which possess larger areas of cultivable 
lands. These can be purchased at lower prices j but iands in this sec- 
tion are more fertile and more convenient to market, two advantages 
which should have great weight with settlers in a new country. 

In the rear of the front owners small tracts of land can be purchased at 
reasonable prices, which possess a soil of equal fertility with the front, 
tracts, and the additional advantage of having a fine range for stock of 
all kinds. These lands are admirably adapted to the wants of tanners 
on a small scale, and so great in their fertility that it requires but. little 
work to secure all the necessaries of life, its comforts am 1 , many of its 
luxuries. 

The facility for sending produce to New Orleans, the principal 
market, is equal to that of any other country, and the wants of the com- 
munity are supplied directly from that great mart of commerce on the 
various shores situated on the banks of the Lafourche ami the interior. 

Steamers which carry the weight of a thousand hogsheads of engar 
pass daily within hail, and at the same time offer pleasant accommoda- 
tions for travelers who are not pressed for time. 

Morgan's Louisiana and Texas Railroad gives quick and direct tnwis- 
portation to New Orleans. 

The principal towns are Houma, Napoleonville and Thibodiux. but 
both banks of the Lafourche are dotted with pretty, thriving villages. 

Both public and private schools are maintaiued in every village. 
There are separate schools for whites and negroes. 

This section is well supplied with churches, and each denomination 
can attend its own place of worship without any inconvenience. 
Those who belong to the Roman Church are largely in the ascendant in 
point of numbers, and possess some fine houses of worship. Great 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 115 



liberality in religious matters prevails, and the different sects cordially 
unite in the promotion of charitable objects. 

There is a constant demand, at remunerative prices, for mechanical 
engineers, carpenters, smiths, and field hands. The amount of ma- 
chinery in sugar-houses of an extensive character creates a great de- 
mand for the best talent in the repair and supply of engines, vacuum- 
pans, centrifugals and sugar mills. On the efficiency of the machinery 
necessary to take off a crop of sugar cane depends the success of a 
whole year's work, and must be doue in proper time or the plauter 
suffers great loss. 

Several hundred people residing on the lower Lafourche and Terre- 
bonne interior lakes earn a comfortable subsistence in transporting 
oysters, either to residents up the Lafourche or by way of the lakes and 
canals to New Orleans. In winter, others follow duck hunting, shooting 
these migratory buds for the New Orleans market and home con- 
sumption. 

AVOYELLES, EAPIDES, NATCHITOCHES AND RED EIVER 

PARISHES. 

These parishes extend, in the order named, from the mouth of the Red 
river, along its winding course, for about 300 miles to the northwest, 
where it enters Caddo parish. 

The formation of Avoyelles is alluvial, except a small amount of 
prairie. 

The soil of Rapides, Natchitoches and Red River is alluvial along th© 
■treams, but the geater portion of the laud lies in longleaf pine hills and 
good uplands. Facility for reaching market is afforded by Red river 
and New Orleans and Pacific Railroad. 

The principal towns are Marksville, Alexandria, Natchitoches and^ 
Coushatta. The arable alluvial lands of 

AVOYELLES PARISH 
lie along the numerous bayous with which it is cut up. These lands ar« 
unsurpassed bv any in the Mississippi Valley, and have attracted 
farmers from other Southern States, who live by the sweat of ther brows, 
and are steadilv growing rich in their new homes. 

The Hon. H. Skip with writes as follows of the prairie in this parish : 

" Penetrating the parish from Simmsport to Moreauville, the entire 

route upon nearly the same level, a stranger who emerges from the 

swamp and sees for the first time the Marksville prairie towering fifty 

feet above him, presenting to his astonished vision the appearance of 

frowning battlements of some venerable fortress, at first view it seems as 

Biongh an impassible barrier to his further progress has been conjured 

. up by some wonderful upheaval of nature ; but as he draws nearer and 

beans the marks of unquestionable antiquity, and winds his devious way 

until he finds a road almost as steep as the Tarpeian rock, awe and 

I wonderment <;ive place to curiosity. 

" This prairie— eight miles from east to west, and eighteen miles from 
north to south— has upon it some venerable landmarks, and about 18,000 
acres of very fair hind, which, under a system of rather negligent tillage, 
has been steadily increasing in productive capacity, it being a common 
remark among the close observers in the parish that the prairie is now 
more fertile than when it was first settled, # miewhere between 176S and 
1781, by a number of Acadian families, who fled from the floods which 
were spread over Pointe Coupee. It was also the site of the old post of 
Avoyelles, and it is still the home of the feeble remnant of the tribe of 
Tunicas, which was once strong enough to wage war with the Natchez 
and hold them in check. Along the eastern margin of this prairie, the 



116 SOME LATE WORDS 

Eed river once flowed, and upon its northeastern margin, almost within 
the corporate limits of Marksville, are still to be seen the well-defined 
lineaments of an earthwork, crescent in form, too laboriously constructed 
and too skillfully laid off to warrant the opinion that it was the work of 
any savage tribe. 

" Just south of Choupique — a remarkable elevation of plateau, five 
miles in length and three miles wide — is another of these astounding 
revelations to the traveler, rising suddenly out »f the swamp seventy- 
five feet. The soil of this prairie is fertile, and almost as productive as 
the allurions which environ it." 

EAST CARROLL, MADISON, TENSAS, CONCORDIA, POINTE 

COUPEE AND WEST BATON ROUGE PARISHES. 

These are all alluvial parishes and famous for their fertility. East 
Carroll, according to the United States Census of 1880, has a larger yield 
of cotton per acre than any other county in the Southern States. This 
parish is in the extreme northeast corner of the State, bounded north by 
the southern line of Arkansas on parallel 33° and east by the Mississippi 
river. 

The other parishes lie due south of East Carroll, in the order named 
above, and extend along the west bank of the Mississippi river, a dis- 
tance of more than two hundred and fifty miles. 

The whole body of land contained in these parishes is probably un- 
surpassed for fertility by any in the world Prior to the war, when the 
levees were secure, arable lands were worth from $50 to $125 per acre. 
They can now be bought from $5 to $25 per acre. 

This depreciation in value is due to the unstable condition of the 
levees.* All of these parishes have been devastated with periodical 
floods since the war, and although not overflowed every year, the back 
lands are considered unsafe for extended planting operations. The 
entire river front is cultivated in the staple crops of the State. West 
Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee produce sugar as well as cotton, while 
the parishes northward grow cotton only as a money crop. 

The highest land lies upon the bank of the river and the drainage is 
to the rear, the lands becoming lower until they reach the wooded 
swamp two or three miles back. These swamps are covered with a 
heavy growth of cypress, oak, ash and gum, and must soon again be- 
come valuable for their timber, which is available in the summer and 
fall, although covered with water in winter and spring. 

The field for speculation in lumber is open to the capitalist familiar 
with the business. From June until December the swamps are suffi- 
ciently dry to admit hauling with the aid of ox teams and timber wheels. 
From February until May, when the crevasse water inundates the 
swamps, it is sufficiently deep to admit of floating the timber.f Port- 
able saw mills might be constructed at convenient points. Lumber is 
in great demand, and none equals that made from cypress for building 
purposes. It is worth from $15 to $30 per 1000 feet, according to quality. 
Cypress staves for barrels and hogsheads, shingles and three-foot boards, 
pieux or pickets are always in demand and command good prices. The 
quality aud durability are superior to those made of any other kind of 
timber. 

The planters of this section are generally educated and refined. They 
are hospitable and generous. 

The negroes who vastly outnumber them are now a happy, docile and 
contented people. The "carpet bagger," whose political preferment 

*This condition of affairs is now supposed to be permanently changed. 
tTbe erevasse water may be considered a thing of the past." The levee system now gives 
the whole front of the Mississippi river in Louisiana protection. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. H7 



M yi wwi^tiH 



was the fruit of the seeds of dissension, assiduously sown among the 
blacks, has long since departed. 

The country sites of these parishes are Lake Providence, Richmond, 
St. Joseph, V'idalia, New Roads and Port Allen. There are hundreds of 
village landings along this long stretch of river, and steamboats, which 
are nearly always in sight, will land at any plantation. 

This is, without doubt, the easiest country in which to live well. The 
earth, with only half cultivation, yields all field, garden and orchard 
products, all domestic animals increase and fatten on the wild growth of 
the forest and pasture, and game and fish can be taken when wanted. 

Both Catholic, and Protestant churches are in every parish, and sepa- 
rate public and private schools for whites and blacks. West Baton 
Rouge and Pointe Coupee are intersected by the New Orleans and 
Pacific Railroad, and Madison is crossed from east to west by the Vicks- 
burg, Shreveport and Pacific Railroad. 

In addition to the money crops of sugar and cotton, all of the field 
crops of the North grow to perfection. 

Corn is raised by all planters and tenants. In new land it produces 
very large crops— 75 bushels to the acre— the yield generally is from 20 
to 40 bushels, according to the hind, culture and season. Corn raised 
here is more wholesome than that brought from the Western States. 
Stock fed on it is rarely, if ever, made sick; whereas. Western corn 
often produces colic with mules and horses, resulting in loss. The seed 
is sown from the 28th of February to the 1st of May. But late corn 
planted in June and July often does as well ; much depends upon the 
season. If the soil is kept loose and well pulverized at the roots, and 
thrown up in hills at the foot of the stock, it will never suffer from 
drouth and never fire. 

Cow peas are planted in corn lands about the middle of May. The 
vines run over the ground and cover it by the month of August with a 
thick foliage, so deuse, and runners so thick, that the rays of the sun 
never penetrate. In September and early in October these vines and 
leaves are cut or raked up, and after several days of exposure and drying 
are housed or stacked for hay. It makes a healthy feed for stock ; they 
keep fat on it during the winter and relish it to the end. The culture of 
the pea has another advantage. It renews the ground and returns to it 
all the nutritious substance taken from it by the sugar cane, tho cotton 
or corn stock. Hence, it is considered to be the best, cheapest and 
most reliable fertilizer. 

The richest and most delicate nut in the world is the pecan. The 
tree reaches an enormous size, its trunk measuring fifteen feet in cir- 
cumference, its height reaching one hundred and twenty-five feet, its 
shade at noon-day covering a circle of one hundred and fifteen feet in 
diameter. For grandeur and magnificence it is the peer among the 
many fine specimens of vegetation in Louisiana. It will bear the 
seventh year after its growth, very few nuts at first, but increasing an- 
nually. They were in great demand immediately after the war and 
sold for high prices. A planter in West Baton Rouge sold $500 
worth of pecans in 1865, gathered from thirty odd trees. One tree bore 
five barrels, which sold for $35 per barrel. The same pecans last season 
brought from $12 to $15 per barrel. 

Considering the little care that is taken of live stock, it is surprising 
that it should increase as it does. Few indeed have attempted to im- 
prove the breed. Cows and their calves, even in the winter time, are 
rarely fed. In the fall, generally not before December, cold weather 
does but little damage to vegetation. Tbe usual length of winter is 
from December 1 to the 15th of February. During these months cattle 
require but very Little feeding; they find sustenance on the fat accumu- 



118 SOME LATE WORDS 



lated in the preceding autnmn. If the planter resides in near proximity 
to a cane-Drake, where switch cane grows wild, or where his stock may 
range in the open woods, then he may be certain that by the approach 
of spring they will return without losing a pound of flesh. These lands 
yield an average of 500 or 600 pounds of lint cotton or forty bushels of 
corn to the acre under proper cultivation. The owners are prosperous 
and the laborers contented. There has been little, or no political or 
social disturbance here. The races are on the best of terms ; the rela- 
tions of employer and employee are well defined and satisfactory. 
Altogether, the cultivated and the overflowed districts present about as 
vivid a contrast as can be formed with prosperity and desolation. 

The proprietors plant in three different ways— the wage, the share, 
and the tenant plan. The wages for regular hired labor averages 
seventy-five cents per day, the laborer buying his own supplies. The 
share laborer receives land, dwelling, team, tools, seed, lire-wood, and 
every necessary to make a crop, and gives half of what he makes to the 
proprietor. The tenant rents land, furnishes his own team, etc., and 
pays the owner eighty pounds of lint cotton per acre as rent. These 
three plans, so different in detail, all come to about the same thing in 
the end, except in the cases of some exceptionally thrifty tenants. The 
day labor, counting in extra wages in chopping and picking time, makes 
about $250 per annum, and this is substantially what the share laborers 
and average tenant makes. There are instances where tenants, by 
intelligence, industry and economy have accumulated an independence 
and are well-to-do. White men can do this, but the average negro 
never thinks of to-morrow, and he is consequently a mere hand-to- 
mouth, though comfortable liver at all times. This is the fault of the 
individual, however, and not of the system. The system is liberal 
enough— far more than the system in any other agricultural country. It 
offers' to honest industry and intelligent thrift, the finest promise that is 
offered anywhere in the civilized world to men without capital. The 
share laborer on the great cotton plantations can without any capital 
except that of his naked muscle, earn as good living and as large a pot 
for a rainy day as the farmer in England with $1000 in money to start 
with — yes larger. 

The hackneyed old fable that white men cannot do field-work in the 
South ought to be exploded by this time, especially when statistics show 
that three-fifths of the cotton produced in the United States is produced 
by white labor. 

Immigrants are wanted here, and they will receive a cordial welcome, 
whether capitalists or laborers. Small capitalists could make splendid 
investments at this time, and no man who desires to work at fair wages 
need be idle for one day. Parties who wish' to work on shares are fur 
nished with comfortable houses, team, tools, firewood and a garden spot, 
free of charge, and those who wish to lease are offered every facility, 
and advances are made to them on the most reasonable terms ; in fact, a 
man can come here without a dollar, and lease land, purchasing mules 
and tools and get his supplies advanced him for the year on credit, and 
if he is any account can at least make his living and pay for his team 
and tools the first year, and after that his success depends upon himself, 
for it is assured, if he will do his duty. Fertilizers are used to a very 
limited extent, but experience has proven that when used, the results 
have been splendid, and pay a very handsome profit. 

Before quoting from Hon. Wm. H. Harris' work on Louisiana as to the 

parishes of 

PLAQUEMINES AND ST. BERNARD, 

we wish to say a brief word by way of introduction. These parishes 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 119 



are inhabited by some of the most cultured and influential of our 
citizens. No other portion of our State can show lovelier homes, mora 
sumptuous surroundings, more lavish, yet high-bred hospitality. 

The area is par excellence the orange belt of the State, and, we think, 
of the United States, for nowhere are finer oranges raised. 

The Shell Beach and Gulf Railroad is extending vegetable-raising 
greatly by reason of its facilities for shipping early vegetables ; and the 
business of raising them and melons is expanding almost to the Gulf, on 
the river. This is going to be an industry of enormous proportions, 
and is growing with astounding rapidity. It is well worth a ride over 
the railroad, in early spring, to see the prodigious area planted, and 
their variety and quality. 

On the right bank of the river, a railroad will soon be built to Grand 
Isle ; and will open up the grand surf of that locality to the lovers of 
bathing. 

Shooting and fishing are superb in both parishes. The oysters, crabs, 
shrimp, turtles, terrapins of the locality are unsurpassed. 

We now quote from Col. Harris : 

" These parishes lie east and southeast of New Orleans and are in the 
main sea marsh. The Mississippi runs through the entire length of 
Plaquemines, from New Orleans to the jetties. 

Nearly all of the cultivatable portion of this parish lies along both 
banks of the Mississippi river, witbin sixty miles of its northern parochial 
boundaries, or above the Forts Jackson and St. Philip. The lands 
below the points designated, or along the last forty miles of the river 
and passes, being low, unprotected by levees, and subject to frequent 
tidal overflow from the gulf, are unfit for cultivation without artificial 
drainage and levees. 

The land is arable along the river above the forts named, at an aver- 
age distance or "depth" from either bank of about one-half mile. 

The population of this parish live and its productions are grown 
almost exclusively within this region of sixty square miles. A small 
proportion of its inhabitants live at the pilot villages and marine 
stations on Pass-a-1'Outre, Southwest and South passes, while a few of 
its people dwell upon the "chenieres" and ridges that rise above the sea 
marsh, or upon the low sand islands of the coast. 

About four-fifths of the total area of the parish is swamp and sea 
marsh, a portion of which lauds may be reclaimed at a remote date, but 
of which the greater part is covered with the "Marais Tremblante" or 
floating prairie. 

There is comparatively little timber country in Plaquemines. That 
which remains is the live oak on the isolated chenieres, and cypress in 
deep swamps. 

Sugar plantations, stocked in cane and drained by means of ma- 
chinery, and bearing orange groves, command from $100 to $500 per 
square acre. 

The rice lands are freely rented at prices ranging from $7 50 to $10 
per square acre, or at the rate of a barrel and a half or two barrels of 
rough rice for every acre planted, payable after the crop has been har- 
vested. These lands are generally already ditched, levied and prepared 
for irrigation. Lands suitable for cultivation in cane, corn or garden 
truck, thoroughly ditched and deeply drained by steam machinery, 



120 SOME LATE WORDS 

command from $10 to $30 per acre, on annual leases! Probably longer 
leases could be obtained at lower figures. Various methods of share- 
working in the sugar field have been tried. That practiced to the 
largest extent is for the landlord to furnish the tenant with lodging, 
land, seed, teams and implements, in return for which the tenant is ex- 
pected to deliver the cane produced to the landlord's mill or manufac- 
tory at $2 50 per ton. Where small farmers cultivated cane entirely at 
their own expense, they sell it at the large manufactories at $4 and $5 
per ton. 

The staple productions of this parish named in the order of their 
value, are sugar, rice, oranges, corn, and farm and garden vegetables. 

Cultivation of the orange has been carried on here since the organiza- 
tion of the parochial government. In fact it is claimed that some of 
the trees in the lower part of the parish are over a hundred years old. 
In the central and southern portion of the parish, on the west bank of 
the river, orange culture has been almost uniformly a profitable business. 
The most favored location for the tree is on the right bank of the river, 
from a point forty-three miles below New Orleans to a short distance 
above Fort Jackson. On the thirty miles of coast designated there is 
almost a continuous grove of orange trees. The largest solid grove is 
fifty-seven miles below New Orleans. This is 100 acres in extent, and 
contains 10.000 trees. Another, forty-seven miles below the city, is 
composed of over 1000 trees. The most productive groves are situated 
in •' ISiuas settlement. " along several miles of the river bank imme- 
diately above Fort Jackson. The annual return from full grown orange 
groves in the favored locations mentioned is from $100 to $200 per acre. 
The hundred acre grove yielded fruit last season which sold for $12,000. 
Smaller groves have often returned more than $200 per acre. 

Lands planted in bearing orange trees command almost fabulous 
prices. Some of them could not be purchased for $500 per square acre. 
A full bearing grove is not obtained till at least ten years after the 
seed is planted, unless grafted upon sour orange stocks, or from six, 
seven or eight years alter the trees have been transplanted from the 
nursery; trees in the nursery are worth from ten to fifty cents each. 
During the first three or four years' growth of the young trees the 
groves may be planted in crops which are not exhausting, though this 
is considered a doubtful policy. After the trees commence bearing, 
little care is required to keep the groves in order, though a degree of in- 
telligence and skill is required in caring for them, which few other fruit 
trees need. 

The most prolific fruit in Plaquemines parish, after the orange, is the. 
fig, almost every variety of which grows here in profusion. Excellent 
peaches are also raised. 

The date, lemon, citron and bananas, are raised in the lower part of 
the parish. These tropical fruits are, however, very uncertain, and 
those raised are kept for home use by the producers 

ST. BERNARD 

begins at the lower limit of the parish of Orleans, on the left bank of 
the Mississippi river, and has a front of some fifteen miles on said river, 
extending to the upper line of the parish of Plaquemines ; it then fol- 
lows the Bayou Terre-aux-Bomfs in an easterly direction to the Gulf of 
Mexico, a distance of about 100 miles. It also includes Proctorville on 
Lake Borgne, and the ridge known as Lachinche, lying on both sides of 
the La L'Outre, a small stream which flows into Lake Borgne. 

According to the census of 1880, the population is about 6000, about 
one-half colored. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 121 



The general topograghy of these parishes is quite similar, and the 
description of one applies to the other. 

The .Mississippi Paver and Shell Beach Railroad, from New Orleans to 
I'roctorville, affords ample transportation facilities, and opens to the 
public one of the most beautiful seabathing resorts in the South. It is a 
great boon to New Orleans. By means of this road, vegetables may be 
placed in the New Orleans market. 

The soil of St. Bernard parish is as rich as any in the State, the area 
of arable land is about 25,000 square acr«s, and easily drained, being 
formed by ridges on both sides of the Terre-aux-Bceufs and La L'Outre 
Bayous, sloping gently towards the cypress swamp on either side. 
There art' many small streams which flow into the numerous bays and 
lakes along the gulf coast, which serve as outlets to carry off surplus 
water. 

Along the Mississippi river and small water courses, the surface is a 
rich, sandy soil; toward the cypress swamp the soil is rich, clay loam. 

The crops at present raised are sugar cane, corn, rice, oranges and 
some cotton, on the Bayou La L'Outre, especially the sea island, which 
grows luxuriantly and yields generally from one U one and a half bales. 
AH kiuds of vegetables are also raised iu large quantities for the New 
Orleans market. 

The largest portion of that part of the parish lying on the Terre-aux- 
Bceufs and La L'Outre is cut up into small farms, where vegetables are 
raised. There are twenty sugar plantations in the parish. 

The Shell Beach Railroad runs southeast through the cane fields and 
orange groves to the salt surf resort on Lake Borgne.*" 

MISCELLANEOUS. 
There are a few parishes that, for one reason and another, we have 
not been able to put into any other category than that of miscel- 
laneous. This is as fit a placing as could be, as their lands are of 
several descriptions — " bluff," "good uplands," "alluvial," etc. 
CALDWELL AND MOREHOUSE PARISHES. 

These parishes are in Northeast Louisiana, f and lie along the banks 
of the Ouachita, from the northern Hue of Catahoula on the south, to the 
State of Arkansas on the north. Their topographical features are very 
similar, the general formation being alluvial along the streams, and all 
the elevated lands being classed as " good uplands," except the western 
third of Caldwell, which extends into the long leaf pine hills. Most of 
Western 

CALDWELL 

is a rough, broken, pine country, cut up by the several branches of 
Bayou Castor. Ou the dividing ridge, between Bayou Castor and 
Washita river, the country is broken and ridgy, especially near the 
Washita, running, in the main, parallel to that river, on which they 
occasionally form precipitous bluffs. t These ridges have a dark-colored, 
loamy soil, giving evidence of the presence of lime by the absence of the 
long-leaf pine, and the prevalence of the better class of upland oak. 
hickory, wild plum and red haw or thorn. The best of this kind of 
country is in the neighborhood of Grandview. Between Grandview and 
Columbia there is a prairie (Prairie Du Cote) about a mile in diameter, 

*4"d now to B»homi», betow Pointe-a-laHache, the parish seat. 

tThe peculiar conformation of Louisiana makes two lections of her area nnrtjiqast. 

*A long, narrow ridge of the "good upland" runs entirely through the parish, from nonh- 
■west to southeast, making a 'divide'' between the Washita river and the Bayou Castor. 



122 SOME LATE WOKDS 



almost round, and with a yellow loam soil. The soil is very fertile and 
is treeless, except a few hawthorn bushes. East of the Washita river is 
mainly the alluvial bottom, subject to overflow, except a long, narrow 
ridge of upland that runs down between Washita and Bceuf rivers, 
reaching nearly to their junction. 

MOREHOUSE 

includes more varieties of land than any other parish in the State. It 
has some cypress swamps, some lowlands or alluvial bottoms, pine 
lands, uplands and even prairie. The bottoms are the most abundant, 
and cover about two-thirds of the parish, the upland nearly one-third, 
while the prairies amount to only a few thousand acres. 

The general topography of the country is a ridge, covered with pine, 
running down the centre of the parish from north to south, sloping to- 
wards lowlands on each side of it. On the west is the Bayou Bartholo- 
mew bottom ; on the east the Bceuf river bottom, a large portion of 
which consists of cypress swamps, subject to overflow, and therefore 
very thinly settled and very little cultivated. The most prosperous 
section is along Bayou Bartholomew. The country is well settled here, 
open to trade, in easy communication with the markets, and not subject 
to overflow. Here are situated the larger plantations, as well as many 
small fauns, cultivated by their owners, white men, and producing all 
that is needed in the way of supplies, such as pork, corn, etc, 

Nearly all the lands in Morehouse are fertile, but there is great diver- 
sity in their productiveness. The best lands are those of the Bayou 
Bartholomew bottom. Those on Bceuf rive)' are too low and swampy 
for cultivation, while the uplands, being largely pine and woods, are 
not as fertile or productive. 

The uplands, however, are good second-rate land, and while they are 
not as prolific in cotton — producing only about half as much as the bot- 
toms — they are fully as good for corn, and better for fruit, vines, etc. 

Very bub coiron is raised on them, except on new lands — corn, oats, 
etc., being the U! lal crops. The hill lands have one advantage, that of 
not ending forth as luxuriant a foliage as the bottoms, so that less labor 
is required to keep the crop in order. The common estimate is that a 
hand can cultivate fully fifty per cent, more of uplands than bottom 
lands. This fact makes the hill country a favorite section for raising 
corn and such crops. 

A very small proportion of the parish is cultivated, not more than 
one-eighth, while one-third could easily be worked with scarcely any 
expense in the way of draining, levees, etc. 

The best planting sections are the Bayou Bartholomew country, Oak 
Ridge, Gum Swamp and Prairie Mer Rouge, some of which regions 
boast of one and a quarter bales of cotton to the acre. 

In these parishes some land is still held by both the Federal and State 
governments, mainly in the pine ridge section, where there are many 
excellent saw mill sites to be purchased. This land is high and healthy, 
well Avatered and adapted to nearly all kinds of crops, and exceedingly 
inviting to the newcomer. From private parties a great deal of good 
land can be purchased at the rate of $1 per acre. 

The general price of lands, however, is as follows: 

First-class open lands, with good improvements, houses, dwellings, 
etc., $20 to $30 per acre. 

First-class wild land, $4 to $6. 

Most of the land is leased by the year, when the prices are : 

For improved lands, in small tracts, one-fourth the crop, or from $5 
to $6 per acre. 



A 150UT LOUISIANA. 128 

For large plantations, with dwellings, gins, cabins, and all the neces- 
sities for the thorough cultivation of the soil, from $3 to $4 per acre. 

There is plenty of labor, both for the saw mills, and the farms and 
plantations. Agricultural labor on the large plantations is mainly 
uegi'O, while the small farms are cultivated mostly by their owners, 
white farmers. Wages are liber,' 1, but the negroes generally prefer to 
cultivate on the share system, and a majority of them work on shares. 
The receipts of a laborer vary as he works well or as the season proves 
favorable, but the usual estimate is that an industrious hand can make 
from eight to ten bales of cotton and from 150 to 200 bushels of corn a 
year without difficulty. 

The estimated yield of good land per acre is, for excellent alluvial 
land, one bale of cotton per acre, or thirty-five bushels of corn, or forty 
bushels of oats, and for the uplands, one-third to one-half bale. 

There is very little stock-raising, although cane-brakes afford an excel- 
lent range for cattle, while the hill lands are admirably adapted for 
sheep. 

This section is well timbered with all the trees known in northern 
Louisiana and southern Arkansas, among which are pine, cypress, 
hickory, dogwood, various kinds •!' oaks, sassafras, sweet gum, osage, 
orange and black walnut. Lumber is abundant and cheap, pine selling 
at $10 per thousand feet, and cypress at from $12 50 to $15. 

Peaches, appies, pears, and plums flourish here. The hill lands are 
much better for fruit raising than the rich bottoms. 

They are admirably adapted for the cultivation of the grape, many 
indigenous varieties of which grow here luxuriantly in the forests. 
Among these may be mentioned, the grape called the Battura, which 
was discovered here in abundance by the early French settlers. This 
grape is of dark blue hue, grows near the water's edge, and prospers 
when it has been covered by overflow, the grapes bursting forth as soon 
as the water goes down. 

The larger streams are the Ouachita and Boeuf rivers and Bayou Bar- 
tholomew, all of winch are large and navigable a greater portion of the 
year to steamers carrying 1500 or more bales of cotton. 

There are hundreds of smaller streams, and a number of lakes of the 
best eating fish, the trout, bass, bank, aud white perch, cat, and buffalo, 
and bar fish. 

The climate is excellent, and not subject to extremes of heat or cold, 
summer or winter. Health good, especially in the uplands. 

Schools and churches are maintained in every neighborhood, and 
more advanced institutions of learning are established in Bastrop and 
Columbia, the principal towns. Some of the most cultivated people of 
the South reside in these parishes, and there is no part of America where 
the immigrant would receive better treatment. 

Is the parishes of Calcasieu and Cameron are not included in the de- 
scription heretofore given (as printed by the United States Agricultural 
Department), of the area catalogued as "prairies" by Professor Lockett ; 
and as late Commissioner of Immigration, Hon. Wm. H. Harris, in the 
description of the "Prairie Parishes" in the book from which we have so 
profusely quoted, treats these parishes as a group and not separately ; 
aud as we have in our method, pursued a different plan from the latter, 
a departure from which might be criticised or misconstrued, we place 
these parishes in our "miscellaneous" list. 



124 SOME LATE WORDS 

OF CALCASIEU 

it is almost superfluous to say anything iu the way of commendation. 
It is the focus of the immigration from the West ; and more Western 
farmers have come into her borders within the last three years, than 
have come into all the rest of Louisiana besides. This parish has more 
than twice the area of any other parish. 3400 square miles. St. Landry 
comes next, with 2,276 square miles; and then Cameron with 1,545. 
But the new parish of Acadia takes away a considerable slice of territory 
from south St. Landry; and almost all of Cameron is in tiie "coast- 
marsh" area of Lockett's classification. 

Calcasieu's area of prairie is now greater than that of any other 
parish; and, in her northern area there is a large belt of very fine pine. 
Within her borders are found five classes of territory: "Prairies, pine 
hills, pine flats, alluvial lands, and coast-marsh," not to emphasize 
"wooded swamps." The parish abounds in streams, and her "pine 
hills" — belt is fairly veined with them. Well towards her western border, 
the Calcasieu river flows; running from the country north of her upper 
boundaries into the Gulf of Mexico, and affording navigation, the year 
round, for vessels of considerable tonnage above Lake Charles. In its 
flow, this river makes several noble lakes, among which Lake Charles 
is the most notable. This charming lake, with the blue of its water, and 
the green of its fringing forests, looks like a large turquoise in a 
setting of emeralds. Its banks are bluffs, some of which are of shells. 
On this lake is the parish seat, Lake Charles, which town has grown as 
if touched by the wand of Midas. The lumbering business is immense — 
there being in the vicinity from six to ten mills manufacturing lumber 
and shingles. The rapid development in many lines, utterly forbids our 
attempting a description of the town. Of late the town lias had two 
noble accessions to her improvements in educational institutions. 
Churches and schools are numerous. Her population must be nearly, or 
quite four thousand. 

In Calcasieu parish many new towns have of late been laid out. 
Jennings is one of them, and is almost entirely populated by Western 
people. Welch, from a little village of 'scarcely fifty people, a year or 
two ago, is now a thriving one of several hundred. Within a year, 
there have been started in this parish six, or more new towns. Lake 
Arthur, one of the prettiest places anywhere, has come in for its share — 
two or three towns having been founded on its shores. 

The streams and lakes of the parish teem with fine fish, and no parish 
offers greater attractions to the sportsmen. Near Lake Charles is the 
prodigious deposit of sulphur — said to be the largest known. There, 
petroleum, gypsum, limestone, alum, etc., are also found. 

CAMERON. 

This parish is almost totally in the "coast-marsh" area. On its 
northern border are some patches of prairie; btrt these are so inconsid- 
erable as to hardly deserve mention. 

Cameron has not yet had her day. She must await the future, and 
abide her time in patience. Site will, doubtless, at some near day, be a 
busy place in canning fish, oysters and shrimp. Her parish seat, Lees- 
burg, is right on the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the Calcasieu 
river; and it must be that in the devolopment that awaits that country, 
Cameron will be greatly benefited by a situation that now seems like isola- 
tion. If deep water ever comes to the mouth of the river, Leesburg will be 
a great place by reason of that alone. When the immigrant takes hold of 
the coast-marsh (as he will before the next quarter of a century), with 
its prodigeously fertile soil, then Cameron parish will come to the front. 
Great will be the crops of sugar-cane, rice, sea-island cotton, oranges, 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 125 



vegetables, etc., while the Gulf will afford cheap and delicious food for 
the agriculturist, and an inexhaustible supply for manufacturing or 
preserving canned goods. So the sea and the land will both pour out 
their bounteous treasures to this, thus far, disregarded parish. 

This "coast-marsh" country ought to have more said about it than has 
been. The entire front of Louisiana is on the Gulf of Mexico. Her 
south boundary is water, and her whole length, from east to west is 
gulf-coast. This is an incommensurable advantage, upon which space 
forbids comment. We append a brief description from Col. Harris' 
Handbook of Louisiana : 

THE GULF COAST. 
"The Coast line of Louisiana extends from Texas on the west at the 
mouth of the Sabine river, to Mississippi on the east at the mouth of 
Pearl river. 
Lockett says : 

It may be divided into two distinct sections, differing from each other 
in many characteristic respects. 

The first or eastern division lies between Cat Island, near the mouth 
of Pearl river and Atchafalaya bayou, the southwest. These two points 
are the most easterly and most westerly limits respectively of the great 
delta of the Mississippi. The waters of the Mississippi formerly found 
their way through Manchac bayou, Lake Maurepas, Lake Pontchartrain 
and the Rigoleta into Lake Borgne, and thence into Mississippi 
Sound, at the entrance of which is Cat Island. These Avaters still 
flow into Atchafalaya Bay through the river of the same name. 
All this part of the coast is extremely irregular, indented with 
numerous bays, out up by thousands of lakes and bayous into a 
labyrinth of peninsulas and islands which it is almost impossible to rep- 
resent, on a map of the scale I have adopted. The general shape of 
this part of the coast is the arc of a circle, convex outwards. The radius 
of the circle is about sixty five geographical miles, and its centre is a 
few miles to the westward of the southwest corner of Lake Pontchar- 
train. This circle crosses the narrow neck of land which makes the 
lower delta, near Forts Jackson and St. Philip. The whole length of 
the arc, excluding the lower delta, is one hundred and seventy miles. 
There is a remarkable tendency of the islands along this circle to form 
themselves into groups, convex towards the Gulf, and each island par- 
takes of the same shape. 

Among the thousand islands along this coast, is the paradise of the 
sportsman. 

Fish and water-fowl abound in countless thousands. 
The professional hunters and fishermen have built their villages upon 
these islands, and live well with little exertion. Their families are reared 
without the aid of physicians and other adjuncts of civilization. Here 
are found the famous Bayou Cook and Bayou Chalon oysters — sea turtle 
and crabs. The water is thick with shoals of shrimp. 

The fame of these lovely islands shaded with live oak, orange and 
banana, with its inlets overflowing with the luscious denizens of the sea, 
has long since gone out to the fartherest ends of the earth." 

The coast front extends through five degrees of longitude in an air 
line over three hundred miles; thus giving Louisiana imperishable 
advantages. 

We have thus treated the parishes separately, so as to gratify the love 
of special mention so natural to every locality; and we have given, as 
far as possible, the views of others instead of ourselves, so as to avoid 
the imputation of bias for or against any parish. We have been actu- 



126 SOME LATE WORDS 



ated in this line of conduct, by a most studied and calculating motive to 
please all who are appreciative of legitimate endeavors to perform the 
arduous and delicate duties in the premises. We are, therefore, not 
chargeable with either the understatements or overstatements of the 
descriptions of these parishes. We have sought subject-matter that 
would naturally be supposed fair, well-informed, impartial. Certainly, 
much of it is above all criticism. Northwest Louisiana has had her own 
say about herself, in the pamphlet from which we have first quoted, 
issued under the auspices of a Northwest Louisiana land association. 
The pamphlet quoted, issued by the United States Agricultural Depart- 
ment, may certainly be supposed impartial, and is certainly a. glowing 
tribute to the area in question. WTiile the descriptions of Col. Win. H. 
Harris' work on Louisiana are not so elaborate or balanced as those of 
the other boohs quoted, they are very cordial, succinct and graphic, 
and, in many instances, are from the pens of citizens of the parishes de- 
scribed, and so far are thus protected from any suspicions of derelict- 
• ness, misdescription, or want of information on his part. 

So that, on the whole, we think we have great reason to congratulate 
ourselves that we have had such wide and many-sided sources of in- 
formation from which to collate our descriptions of the parishes. 

A few of the parishes have issued a pamphlet, each, descriptive of the 
merits of their respective areas. At first, we felt inclined to quote from 
these, as to each parish, but soon had to discard that idea, because of 
the difficulty of selecting what to print and what to suppress. And, we 
could never have given satisfaction in any case, because of the unrea- 
sonableness of the various criticisms we should have evoked. Then, in 
some instances, these pamphlets are, each, nearly or quite half as largo 
as this book, which covers the whole State. So, even a moderate, quo- 
tation from a few of them would have consumed all the space of our own 
pamphlet. In this aspect of the case, we had only one safe thing t<> 
do, which was to avoid quoting from any pamphlet devoted solely to a 
single parish, but to give it the benefit of a mention here, so that en- 
quirers might obtain it. And this plan is incomparably more advanta- 
geous to such parishes as have issued pamphlets, since it puts before en- 
quirers all they have to say in furtherance of their claims, whereas, we 
could, at best, have only given very meagre space to a quotation of 

them. 

Besides, m various circular-letters, heretofore issued to the parishes, 
we tried to incite them to organize in behalf of immigration, and to pub- 
lish propaganda in that regard, by informing them that we should issue 
a pamphlet soon, and that, in it, we would call attention to any organi- 
zations that should exist, and any publications that might be issued. 
We here and now fulfill that promise. There is an organization, with 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 127 



headquarters at Shreveport, Louisiana, that has issued a "Pamphlet 
Descriptive of the Parishes iu Northwest Louisiana," an organization 
in Union parish, headquarters Farmersville, which has issued a pam- 
phlet j Bienville parish lias issued a pamphlet, and the headquarters 
there are Arcadia; Franklin parish lias an organization, and has issued 
a pamphlet, headquarters at Winnsborougli ; Huston, Lincoln parish, 
has an organization; Morehouse parish has issued a pamphlet, head- 
quarters, Bastrop; Ascension parish, headquarters, Donaldsonville, has 
issued a pamphlet under the auspices of the Ascension parish branch of 
the Sugar Planters' Association; Tangipahoa parish has issued a pam- 
phlet, headquarters, Amite; the Illinois Central Railroad Company has 
issued a pamphlet, applications for which should be made to Mr. J. P. 
Merry, General Western Passenger Agent, Manchester, Iowa; lastly, an 
organization of great prominence and influence, known as the State 
Immigration Association of Louisiana, has its headquarters in New 
Orleans, with Hon. John Dymond as president. 

We have reserved Orleans parish for separate comment, aud have 
taken it out of the category of "Alluvial Lands," because of its superior 
claims to more elaborate notice as being particularly the seat of New 
Orleans, the leading city of the State, and the metropolis of the South- 
west. The limitations of our space, we regret to say, compel us to 
abridge greatly the portrayal of this great city, and we must generalize 
much in doing so. In this line of treatment we shall have recourse to 
the labors of others who have taken a broad view of most material facts 
germane to the material aspects of the city. 

The following remarks upon New Orleans are extracts from an ad- 
dress of Judge Chas. E. Feuner, at the opening of the Cotton Palace, in 
February, 1889, in that city: 

"When we survey the great natural advantages of the State of Louisi- 
ana and of the city of Orleans, it seems difficult to explain how they 
have been distanced in the race of progress by many of their sister 
States and cities which have had much greater difficulties to encounter 
and obtacles to overcome. It cannot, be denied that her temperate 
climate, her fertile soil, the great variety of her productions, the access- 
ibility to market of all portions of her territory, and her general salu- 
brity, reduce to a minimum the struggle of existence in Louisiana, and 
place within the reach of her inhabitants, a greater proportion of the 
comforts of life, at a less cost of labor, than can be obtained iu almost 
any other part of the world. 

As for the city of New Orleans, the slightest study of the map of the 
Western Hemisphere inevitably fixes upon her as the site of a great 
metropolis. This was visible to Bienville when he transported the 
colony which his brother, Iberville, had founded on the salubrious shores 
of Lake Pon tcharl rain, to the halt-reclaimed swamps on the bank of the 
Mississippi, and, with prophetic vision, fixed here the seat of a commer- 
cial empire. It was equally visible to Thomas Jefferson, when he 
seized upon the complications of European politics, to acquire for his 
country, the priceless treasure of the Louisiana territory. 



128 SOME LATE VVUKDS 

Situated at tlie southern gateway to the ocean < f that vast and incom- 
parable region known as the Mississippi Valley, the natural key to the 
navigation of that great system of waterways which penetrate the rich- 
est regions of the globe, and, converging in the central artery of the 
Mississippi river, find their way to the ocean on its mighty current; 
planted almost on the dividing line between two continents, naturally 
tributary to each other, and finding here their inevitable centre of ex- 
changes; the existence of New Orleans as a commercial metropolis is 
not an accident, but a necessity, and he is blind who cannot foresee the 
magnificent future which lies before her. The possible New Orleans 
rises before the mind's eye as one of the most entrancing visions that can 
bewitch the imagination. Nature has done for her all that is necessary." 

Prom "The New South" of Col. M. B. Hillyard, in his article 
"Louisiana," we quote from pp. 312-313, the following elaborate pen 
picture of New Orleans and its possibilities: 

" No other city on this continent is so unique in its aspects as this, the 
chief city of Louisiana. Its quaint hurly-burly, its gay and giddy peo- 
ple, its love of pageantry, its surprising abandon, its fondness for 
parades, its union of bustle and idleness, the coarse savagery, squalor, 
ignorance, of part of its population, and the gentle refinement, high cul- 
ture and effervescent brightness of manner of another; the stench of 
its gutters, and the floral glories of its gardens and parks; its grotesque 
and chaotic architecture ; its markets, and their noisy and nondescript 
vendors; the diverse dialects of its inhabitants; the eloquence of its 
clergy; the desecration of the Sabbath in games, entertainments, pic- 
nics, theatres and conduct of business; its extravagance in dress and 
the gayety of if; its consummate beggars; its fine wines and cigars; its 
■world-known carnival, and the matchless participation in its spirit; the 
knightly valor of its gentlemen, their hospitality and unspeakable charm 
of rammer; the glorious beauty, elegance, sparkle of its ladies — these, 
and far more that defy enumeration, give New Orleans aspects kaleido- 
bcopic and bi~< >■ e. 

The busine - n legibilities of this most advantageously located city are 
almost beyond r imputation. "New Orleans enjoys advantages which 
are peculiar, and which must make her a great emporium of trade and 
commerce. These are the facilities for transportation of heavy freight 
by river; her system of railroads, her safe and deep water port, her 
geographical proximity to Mexico, Central and Soutli America. She is 
the natural outlet for the products and manufactures of the Mississippi 
basin and of the Western States. She should also be the distributing 
point for the imports from neighboring countries. The Panaiua Canal, 
when completed, will cause an enormous increase in her traffic. She is 
but five days from Colon, the mouth of the canal; one day's crossing 
will bring her to Panama. This means communication in six days with 
the western coast of Central and South America, and an absorption of 
all the heavy freight from our California coast, and the supply of the 
wants of the people on the western coast of Central America under such 
favorable conditions as to defy competition. More intimate connections 
with Mexico will stimulate traffic between the two countries, a large por- 
tion of which must necessarily fall into the lap of New Orleans." 

New Orleans ought to be the great centre of sugar refining. Her 
proximity to Cuba and her position as the emporium of tie home sup- 
ply; her river for distribution, along with ner railroads, show this The 
unnatural torn petition of German beet-sugar cannot continue. She 
ought to manufacture flour from Soul hern raised wheat, and distribute 
it to South and Central America, West Indies and Mexico. Many con- 
siderations urge her elegibilify as a great cotton manufacturing city. 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 129 



Years hence Southern raised wool will come here in great quantity, and 
woolen factories ought to spring up. Silk factories we ought to confi- 
dently expect, too. Her proximity to Texas and South America for 
hides, points to her as a most proper place for manufacturing boots and 
shoes, harness, trunks and other articles into which leather largely en- 
ters. Here ought to be canned extensively oysters, shrimp, fish', terra- 
pins, wild duck, figs, oranges, pineapples, many vegetables, etc. 

Iron ship building, and wooden, too, tor that matter, ought to here 
find one of its most eligible localities. Proximity to coal and iron ; com- 
peting railroads from the fields of these minerals, with down grades; a 
river entering, so to speak, distant fields to cheapen these products; the 
cheapest and best timber in the world — Southern white oak and yellow 
pine — near; deep water and plenty room for launching — all these and 
more, show the inducements to this industry. 

No place seems so fit for the seat of an immense industry in the manu- 
facturing of furniture, whether one regards her proximity to the fine 
woods of the tropics, or her contiguity to the abundant — almost un- 
touched, — -woods of the South. This city could hardly have a rival in 
the country, in the manufacture of either cheap or most elegant furni- 
ture. Comparative non-competition, largeness of territory for consump- 
tion, cheapness and facility of distribution, are all additional and most 
important factors. 

New Orleans ought to be a prodigious producer of woodenware. This 
needs no further word. Rags are exported hence to New York. This is 
suggestive enough of paper manufacture. 

New Orleans ought to export the bulk of the tobacco raised in Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee. This product would thus bring more money to 
its producers. 

A large increase of capital, available for current uses, is badly needed 
in New Orleans. This city is now too dependent upon New York. 

Most Western importations ought to come via New Orleans ;*ind the 
South will find her one of the most eligible ports for the exportation of 
her future home-made flour, cotton goods, canned meats and vegetables, 
boots, shoes, harness, farming utensils, machinery, etc. Coal aud lumber, 
too, ought to find large exportation from this port. There must be a 
great future in these. Certainly, New Orleans ought to be the great 
entrepot for the teas and silks of China and Japan, and for the coffee 
and spices of the tropics. The completion of either the great canal 
across the Isthmus or the Eads' Ship Railway, will open a path which 
New Orleans ought to enter. 

" The South is the coming country." New Orleans is the gateway to 
the world to and from the South and West." 

New Orleans is well advanced iu manufactures. She is getting strong 
in breweries, sugar refineries, foundries, shoe manufactories, cooper 
ages, box factories, soap factories, candy manufactories, cigar and 
tobacco factories, ready-made clothing, boots and shoes, sash, blind and 
door factories, lumber factories (saw mills), brick yards, potteries, rice 
mills, book-binderies, wagons, carriages, moss ginneries. She is making 
some furniture, harness, saddles, brooms, corks, tanning some leather. 
Her oil mills, rice mills, book-binderies, fertilizer factories, canning 
factories, are strong factors in her industries, as are cotton factories, in 
which she has of late made notable progress. She possesses the finest 
porcelain factory in America; its wares being equal to those of Sevres. 
She makes fine ropes and cotton yarns, cordage, etc. There are two tile 
factories. But it is impossible to enumerate all her industries. 

She has about the deepest water in the United States clear to the salt 
water, and will iu all likelihood have the United States Navy Yard here, 



130 SOME LATE WORDS 

and probably iron ship-building establishments. She has very credit- 
able shipyards now. We may certainly look to immense business in 
building cars, locomotives and engines here (as is done in the last in- 
stance largely now) some day. And agricultural implements ought to 
be a prominent manufacturing interest. 

New Orleans is well supplied with railroads already, and has lately 
been opened up to Denver, Colorado. Two lines more at least are mak- 
ing this way, one from Dallas, Texas ; and another the Fort Scott, 
Natchez and Gulf. Those already here are the Louisville and Nash- 
ville, along the coast of the Mississippi Sound, passing through Mobile, 
Montgomery, Birmingham, Nashville, Louisville, etc.; The Illinois 
Central Railroad, passing through Jackson and Canton, Mississippi, 
Memphis, Tennessee, Cairo, Illinois, and on to Chicago and St. Louis, 
Missouri ; The Mississippi Valley Railroad, through Baton Rouge, 
Vicksbui'g, Memphis, Tennessee, Paducah, Kentucky, to Richmond and 
Fortress Monroe, Virginia ; The Queen and Crescent Route, through 
Meridian, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 
to Cincinnati, Ohio ; The Southern Pacific Railroad, through southwest 
Louisiana, through Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, El Paso, 
to San Francisco; The Texas and Pacific, via Baton Rouge, Alexandria, 
Shreveport, Marshall, Longview, Terrell, Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso. 
The last two afford outlets to Denver, Colorado, by the Denver, Texas 
and Fort Worth Railroad, finished last summer to Fort Worth from 
Denver. Of course we cannot undertake to enumerate the connections 
made with subordinate railroads by the trunk lines we have mentioned. 
It would take a volume to do it. Suffice it to say that New Orleans is 
pretty thoroughly connected with the whole railroad system of the 
United States. 

By her river she can have navigation such as no other city can boast, 
as the Allowing shows : 

NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 

The total navigation of the Mississippi itself is 2161 miles, but small 
steamers can ascend 760 miles further. 

The following are its principle navigable tributaries with the miles 
open to navigation : 

Miles. 

Minnesota 295 

Chippewa 90 

Iowa 80 

Missouri 3,174 

BigHorn 50 

Allegheny 325 

Muskingum 94 

Kentucky 105 

"Wabash." 365 

Tennessee 270 

Osage 302 

White 779 

Little White 48 

Big Hatchie 75 

Sunflower 271 

Tallahatchie 175 

Red 986 

Cypress 44 

Black 61 

Bartholomew 100 

Macon 60 

Atchafalaya 218 

Lafourche 168 

The other ten navigable tributaries have less than fifty miles each of 
navigation. 

The Mississippi and its tributaries may be estimated to possess 16,571 
miles, navigable to steamboats, and 20,221 miles, navigable to barges. 



Miles. 

Wisconsin 160 

Rock 64 

Illinois 350 

Yellowstone 474 

Ohio 1,021 

Monongahela 110 

Kanawha 94 

Green 200 

Cumberland 609 

Clinch 50 

St. Francis 180 

Black 147 

Arkansas 884 

Issaquena 161 

Yazoo 228 

Big Black 35 

Cane 54 

Ouachita 384 

Bceuf 55 

Tensas 112 

Teche 91 

D' Arbonne 50 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 



131 



As to the lines of steamers and sailing vessels at this port, our space 
utterly forbids an enumeration of them ; but with vessels to foreign 
ports, coastwise and rivers, our tonnage is very large. 

Capital invested in manufacturing in this city is exempted from taxa- 
tion for ten years. 

The population of New Orleans is estimated to be 254,000; 184,500 
white, 69,500 colored. 

NAVIGABLE STKEAMS. 

The following is a list of the navigable waters in the State : 



Streams. 



Amite River 

Atckafalaya River. . . . 
Barataria Bayou 

* Bartholomew Bayou. 

Bisteneau Lake 

Black River 

Bodeau Lake 

Boeuf River 

Bee at' Bayou 

Calcasieu River 

Caiie River 

*Cross Lake 

Courtableau Bayou... 
D'Arbouue Bayou.... 

DeGlaise Bayou 

Delarge Bayou 

Dorchite Bayou 

Forks of Calcasieu. . . 
Grand Caillou Bayou, 

Lafourche Bayou 

Laeoinbe Bayou 

Little River 

Louis Bayou 

Mae,on Bayou 

Manchac Bayou 

Mermenteau Bayou.. 

* Mississippi River. . . . 
Nathalbany River.... 
''Ouachita River 

'Pearl River 

Petite An.se Bayou. . . 

*Red River 

Rouge Bayou 

Sabine River 

Teclie Bayou 

Tensas River 

Tickfaw River 

Terrebonne Bayou. . . . 
Tangipahoa River.... 
Tchefuncta Bayou. . . . 

Vermilion Bayou 

Other streams 



Total. 



Miles of 
Navigation. 



61 

218 
78 
4,0 
30 

126 
10 
55 
11 

132 
60 
25 
30 
50 
29 
20 
6 
32 
13 

318 
15 
12 
15 

138 
18 
81 

585 
12 

217 

103 
8 

510 
15 

387 
91 

112 
16 
27 
15 
20 
49 

155 



3,771 



Head of Navigation. 



Port Vincent. 
Red Rivor. 
Harv py's Canal. 
Baxter, Ark. 
Minden. 

Month of Ouachita. 
Bellevue, 
Rayville . 



Grand Ecore. 
Jefferson, Texas. 
Washington. 
Fannorville. 
Evergreen. 



Minden. 



Donaldsonville. 
Bayou Lacombe, 
Trinity. 
Bayou Castor. 
Floyd. 
Hope Villa. 
Lake Arthur. 
St. Paul, Minn. 
Springfield. 
Canideu, Ark. 
Carthage, Miss. 
Salt Mine. 

Slirevoport, State Shoals, 
Texas. 

St. Martinsville. 
Lake Providence. 



Old Landing. 
Pin Hook Ridge. 



; Portion of navigable - Stream lying in other States. 



MILES OF NAVIGATION IN EACH STATE OF MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



Miles. 

Louisiana 3,771 

Arkansas 2,100 

Mississippi ^380 

Montana 1,310 

Dakota 1,280 

Illinois 1,270 

Tennessee 1,260 

Kentucky [,027 

Indiana 1,230 

Iowa SHI 

Indian Territory 830 



Miles. 

Minnesota 720 

Wisconsin 660 

Ohio 560 

Texas 550 

Nebraska 440 

West Virginia 500 

Pennsylvania 380 



Kansas. 



Alabama. . 
New York . 



240 

200 

70 



132 SOME LATE WORDS 

The State contains about (23,000,000) twenty-six million acres of land, 
and (1,250,000) one and a quarter million acres of inland water surface. 

TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. 

■ The land is nearly equally divided into hilly and level lands. 
The lands of the State may be approximately divided as follows: 
Good upland (5,250,000) five and a quarter million acres. 
Pine lulls (5,500,000) five and a half million acres. 
Bluff lands (1,500,000) one and a half million acres. 
Prairie (2,500,000) two and a half million acres. 
Arable alluvial (2,750,000) two and three-quarter million acres. 
Pine flats (1,500,000) one and a half million acres. 
Coast marsh (3,500,000) three and a half million acres. 

MINERALS. 

Louisiana marble and kainite beds, situated in Winn parish, and the 
kaolin beds in Catahoula, are the most notable discoveries made in 
northwest Louisiana. The marble underlays 1000 acres, and is said by 
those who claim to know, to be the largest marble formation in the 
world. All colors are found. The banded, variagated, and yellow lime 
onyx are unique. The stone has been assayed both here and at Washing- 
ton, ]). C. The crystal is very fine and stone compact. It contains no 
iron, silica or sulphur. It is absolutely free from all extraneous matter. 
The kainite beds of Winn parish are situated four miles south of Winn- 
field. They are said to contain potash, soda, lime, salt and aluminum 
in combination. It is claimed to be a good fertilizer when combined 
with the lime burned from the marble, and can be put on the market for 
less than half the price of commercial fertilizer. If this information is 
coiiect it is a mine of wealth. 

GOVERNMENT AND STATE LANDS. 

We pass now to the topic of lands in Louisiana belonging to the 
United States and to the State. 

The following letter, kindly furnished, at my request, by Hon. J. 
Massie Martin, United States Receiver, will give some light as to the 
quantity of lands subject to homestead entry belonging to the United 
States and situated in the State of Louisiana : 

United States Land Office, ) 
New Orleans, La., January 12, 1889. £ 

Hon. T. W. Toole, Commisiionor Bureau of Immigration, No. 3 Carondelet 
street, New Orleans, La.: 

Dkar Sir — Your favor of the ilth inst., received. The number of 
acres subject to homestead entry, belo aging to the United States and 
located in this State is, in rougli numbers, about 2,000,000 acres. 

The bulk of these Lands are pine lands, the prairie lands of the State 
having been the first to be entered by settlers. Respectfully, 

J. Massie Martin, Receiver. 

There are two Registers of the United States Land Office in this State. 
One in the city of New Orleans, the other in the town of Natchitoches. 
The following letter explains itself: 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 133 



United States Land Office, ) 
Natchitoches, La., January 18, 1889, $ 

Hoq. T. W. Poole, New Orleans, La.: 

Dear Sir— In compliance with your request, I have made a hurried 
estimate of the vacant public domain, by parishes in this district, Avith 
the following result : 



Vernon 67,000 

Sabine 38,060 

Rapides 25,000 

Red River 3,500 

Claiborne 8,500 

Grant 4,500 



Natchitoches 58,020 

Bienville 18,000 

Bossier 15,000 

Caddo 12,500 

Webster 7,500 

Winn 15,000 



These are proximate figures, the time allowed not being sufficient to 
make an accurate statement. Respectfully, 

Willis Holmes, Register. 

This would leave in round numbers about 1,700,000 acres unaccounted 
for in the rough computation. We venture to throw a little more light 
on this subject, by stating that there is government (United States) land 
subject to homestead entry in the parishes of northern Catahoula, in 
various parts of Jackson, Caldwell, Ouachita, and some in Morehouse 
and Union. That is all the information we venture on the topic, and 
that we give with great hesitation, and only in deference to what seems 
a common expectation on the part of the public that, the Commissioner 
of Immigration should know all about the matter, an* that it is his duty 
to impart it. We beg the public to understand that it is not the province 
of the Commissioner of Immigration to communicate information on the 
topics or subjects of lands subject to homestead entry, belonging to the 
United States, or of lands belonging to the State of Louisiana subject to 
homestead entry or sale. Information as to United States lands is 
properly obtainable at the office of the land registers at New Orleans, 
and Natchitoches, Louisiana ; as to State lauds, of the register of the 
State land office, at Baton Rouge, La. We convey this information to 
prevent disappointment and delay to enquirers, and to protect the Com- 
missioner of Immigration against unreasoning, unkind, or ignorant, but 
innocent, criticism. It would be an act of almost physical impossibility 
to give accurate information as to where and how much land is subject 
to sale and entry in the State. Thousands in that category to-day 
might be sold or entered to-morrow ; and to keep up a daily communi- 
cation with these land offices (two in remote parts of the State), would 
be simply impossible. What we have said as to United States lands is, 
therefore, only approximate, and is only a courtesy, we should be glad 
to make more serviceable, if we could. But to give minute data as to 
quantities and localities of government lands would involve months of 
research and is entirely outside the province of this office. 



134 SOME LATE WORDS 

The public lands of the United States are now withdrawn from sale, 

and are only subject to homesteads. 

40 a"cres can be entered at a cost total fees and expenses of about $18 00 

80 " " " " " " " " 22 00 

120 " " " " " " " " 25 00 

160 " " " " « " " " 30 00 

Also Louisiana has several million acres of State lands. These lands 
are subject to entry as homesteads, by actual settlers, free of cost, ex- 
cept the nominal cost of notice of application, etc., to the amount of 100 
acres. The lands are also subject to purchase in any quantity at prices 
ranging from 12|c to 75 per acre. 

RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND EXEMPTIONS OF TENANTS, 
LABORERS AND WORKINGMEN. 

HOMESTEADS AND EXEMPTIONS — CONSTITUTION OF 1879. 

Article 219. There shall be exempt from seizure and sale by any 
process whatever, except as herein provided, the homesteads bona fide 
owned by the debtor and occupied by him, consisting of lands, build- 
ings and appurtenances, whether rural or urban, of every head of a 
family, or person having a mother or father, a person or persons, de- 
pendent upon him or her for support ; also one work horse, one wagon 
or cart, one yoke of oxen, two cows and calves, twenty-five head of 
hogs, or one thousand pounds of bacon, or its equivalent in pork, 
whether these exempted objects be attached to a homestead, or not, and 
on a farm the necessary quantity of corn and fodder for the current 
year, and the necessary farming implements to the value of two thous- 
and dollars. 

EXEMPTION IN FAVOR OF LESSEE, OR TENANT. 

Civil Code, Article 2705. The lessee shall be entitled to retain out 
of property subjected by law to the lessor's privilege, his clothes and 
linen, and those of his wife and family, his bed, bedding and bedstead, 
those of his wife and family; his arms, military accoutrements, and the 
tools and instruments necessary for the exercise of his trade or profes- 
sion by which he gains a living, and that of his family. 

exemptions from seizure for debt — acts 1876, No. 79. 

Section 1. The sheriff or constable cannot seize the linen and 
clothes belonging to the debtor, or his wife, nor Ins bed, bedding, or 
bedstead, nor those of his family, nor his arms and military accoutre- 
ments, nor the tools, instruments and books, and sewing machines neces- 
sary for the exercise of his or her calling, trade or profession by which 
he or she makes a living, nor shall he in any case seize money due for 
the salary of an officer, nor laborers' wages, nor the cooking stove, nor 
utensils of the said stove, nor the plates, dishes, knives and forks, and 
spoons, nor the dining table and dining chairs, nor wash-tabs, nor 
smoothing irons and ir niing furnaces,. nor family portraits belonging to 
the debtor, nor the musical instruments played on, or practiced on by 
any member ot the family. 

various privileges of laborers — acts 1880, no. 89. 

Section 1 . The laborer shall have the first privilege on crops. 

Civil Code, Article 3217. The workman or artisan shall have a 



ABOUT LOUISIANA. 135 



privilege for the price of his labor on the movable property, which he 
has repaired or made, if the thing continues in his possession. 

Civil Code, Article 3249. Architects, undertakers, bricklayers, 
painters, master builders, contractors, sub-contractors, journeymen, la- 
borers, cartmen and other workmen employed in constructing, rebuild- 
ing, or repairing houses, buildings, or making other works, shall have a 
lien and privilege upon the building, improvements, or other work 
erected, and upon the lot of ground not exceeding one acre, upon which 
the building, improvement or other work shall be erected ; provided 
such lot of ground belongs to the person having such building, improve- 
ment, or other work erected. 

Acts, 1880, No. 130, Section 1. Laborers and workingmen on build- 
ings, streets, railroads, canals, ditches, and other similar works, when 
their services are engaged by the proprietor, or any agent of the pro- 
prietor, upon any of the works enumerated, shall have a first privilege 
upon the buildings or other works upon which their labor has been 
bestowed. 

Section 2." That when such works are done by any contractor, or 
sub-contractor for a stipulated price, it shall not be lawful for any por- 
tions of such contract price to be paid or advanced to the contractor, or 
sub-contractor, until payment has been made, or security given, for all 
sums due to laborers or workmen under such contractors, or sub-con- 
tractors, up to the date of such payment, nor shall any payments or 
advances be made to any such contractor or sub-contractor, except in 
proportion to work actually done, and in such manner as to leave un- 
paid at all times, until the completion of the work, a sum sufficient to 
secure the bills for labor or work. 

STATE LANDS. 

Section 10, Act No. 75, approved April 7, 1888, provides that the 
public lands, donated by Congress to the State of Louisiana, shall be 
subject to entry and sale, at the rate of seventy-five cents per acre, for 
any number of acres ; and any person making affidavit that he or she 
enters for his or her own use ; and for the purpose of actual settlement 
and cultivation, and together with the said entry, he or she has not ac- 
quired from the .State of Louisiana, under the provisions of this or any 
act graduating State lands, more than one hundred and sixty acres, 
according to the established surveys, shall be allowed to enter one hun- 
dred and sixty acres at the rate of twelve and one-half cents per acre. 



STATE OFFICERS. 

Francis Tillou Niciiolls, Governor. 

James Jeffries, Lieutenant-Governor. 

Leonard F. Mason, Secretary of State. 

Walter H. Rogers, Attorney General. 

Ollie Brice Steele, Auditor of Public Accounts. 

William H. Pipes, State Treasurer. 

W. H. Jack, Superintendent of Public Education. 



